Oikko Parishad, a group within the Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA), led by Al Shahriar Ahmad, managing director of Adzi Trims, submitted a nomination paper on March 30.
The election board is set to announce the final list of candidates on April 22, with polls scheduled for May 11 as per the 2024-26 election timetable. This marks BGAPMEA's first-ever direct polls, a significant step for the apex body of the apparel sector's backward linkage.
Currently, the trade body is under the administration of an appointed official, whose tenure has been extended for six months. Oikko Parishad aims to bring a fresh, dynamic approach to BGAPMEA, presenting a full panel for the upcoming elections.
Al Shahriar, also a former director of BGAPMEA, serves as co-Chairman of Backward Linkage at the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), and general secretary of Bangladesh Apparel Youth Leaders Association (BAYLA).
With over 15 years of experience, Al Shahriar has earned recognition such as the BGAPMEA Youth Entrepreneur Award 2022, The Bizz Entrepreneurial Award 2023, and inclusion in the JCI TOYP (Ten Outstanding Young Persons of Bangladesh) 2021 list.
The candidates for Dhaka Zone are of Meghna Packaging Managing Director Asif Jasim, Dynamic Packaging Managing Director Md Monir Hossain, Union Label and Accessories Director Moniruzzaman Molla, Rupom Packaging and Printing Managing Director Md Aziz Faruque, Siam Computerise Elastic Managing Director Md Mobarak Ullah Mazumder, AKH Packaging and Accessories Director Md Firoz Uddin, Button Tex Managing Director Md Azad Khan, Retail Technologies Managing Director Md Kamrul Hassan, Adzi Trims Managing Director Al Shahriar Ahmad, Inter Label Robust Director Kazi Ashraful Haque Juwel, Shova Trims Managing Director Taposh Kormoker, Asian Printing and Packaging Managing Director Mazaharul Haque Shahid, ZM Printing and Design Managing Director Md Abdul Kader Zilani, Outfit Kings Managing Director Md Shah Alom, Badsha Industries Managing Director Md Saiful Islam Shabuj and Global Premium Accessories Managing Director Mojammel Hossain.
Former BGAPMEA president Abdul Kader Khan announced the panel and panel leader's name on March 28.
Panel Leader Al Shahriar said that they are contributing billions of USD every year to the country’s economy, but their sector is still neglected.
“BGAPMEA is going through a critical moment, and we [Oikko Parishad] want to overcome the crisis. We will work for cash incentives and policy support, if voters cast their vote in favour of our panel,” he added.
The BGAPMEA started its operation in 1989, and it currently has nearly 1,900 members, who are contributing nearly $8.5 billion to the apparel export.
On August 8, BGAPMEA first vice-president Mohammad Belal sent a letter to the commerce ministry, claiming that the president of the trade body, Mohammad Moazzem Hossain Moti, renewed his membership using fake documents.
After a hearing and a show-cause notice, the ministry appointed senior assistant secretary Mohammad Moshiur Rahman as an administrator of the apex body on September 24 last year for six months.
In the order, the ministry said the administrator would prepare a proper voter list and complete the election to the executive committee of the BGAPMEA within the stipulated time, and hand over the responsibility to the elected representatives and notify the ministry about it.
