Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has sought extension of time again from the Ministry of Commerce to update voters’ list for the election of the board of directors.
In a letter to the ministry recently, the body said it would need more time than previous three months extension to complete the process, said BGMEA sources.
Due to the political unrest, many a member has failed to submit their updated documents within the stipulated time, delaying the electoral roll update works.
“We have received updated tax identification numbers and trade licences from 48% of our members,” said a senior BGMEA official.
To ensure participation of a majority number of members, time is needed to collect documents from more members, he said.
The tenure of the incumbent board will expire on March 25 and as per the rule, the election schedule for the next two-year term was supposed to announce three months before the expiry. The election is held by the end of this three-month period.
As the ministry had asked the trade body to update voters’ list before the election, the body was unable to announce the schedule in December and sought time to carry out the directive. The government extended the time by three months.
As per the extension, the schedule was supposed to be announced by the end of March and election was to be held by June.
Since the BGMEA has said it needs more time, the election will be delayed further if the time is extended again by the ministry.
A BGMEA board member, however, criticised the delaying of the process saying “it has become a trend of the BGMEA to delay the election and grab the power for a longer period like political parties.”
“It is very unfortunate for the business community,” he lamented.
“This type of malpractices should be stopped to uphold the image of the BGMEA. Otherwise the board will face the question of transparency,” added the board member who wanted not to be named.
Earlier, the Directorate of Trade Organisations under the Ministry, in a letter, asked the BGMEA to submit a list of the factories which had updated tax identification numbers and trade licences to ensure transparency in updating voters’ list. In the middle of January this year, the BGMEA issued a circular asking its members to submit their updated TINs and licences by one month.
