Mahmud Hasan made Forum panel leader

FE REPORT

Mahmud Hasan Khan, managing director of Rising Fashions, has formally been announced as the team leader of Forum, a panel of the country's garment makers.

The announcement was made at an event held at a city hotel on Wednesday, ahead of the upcoming election to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

President and general secretary of the panel Abdus Salam and Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, former BGMEA presidents Dr Rubana Huq and Anwarul Alam Chowdhury, among others, were present there.

Forum and Sammilita Parishad, another panel, traditionally compete in the elections to the apparel apex body.

On October 20, commerce ministry dissolved the BGMEA board in line with provision 17 of the Trade Organisations Act 2022 and appointed Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) vice-chairman Md Anwar Hossain as its administrator.

The ministry's circular stipulated that the administrator would hold a free and fair election within 120 days and hand over charge to the newly elected body.

Earlier on August 24, Designtex Group managing director Khandoker Rafiqul Islam was elected as the president of BGMEA following the resignation of SM Mannan Kochi.

Mr Kochi was elected as BGMEA president on March 14 for the 2024-26 tenure.

The BGMEA board then elected Rafiq as president of the trade body for the remaining period of the term.

At a press conference in August, a group of members demanded the dissolution of the BGMEA board, alleging that it failed to provide proper directives to those who had difficulty in operating factories during the student movement and also after the turmoil stemming from the political changeover, labour unrest and flood situation.

They also alleged that the BGMEA election held in February this year was marred by irregularities and Mr Kochi had good terms with the deposed premier.

He was also involved in carrying out attacks on students during their movement in July and August, they claimed.

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