The government has dissolved the current board of directors of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and has appointed an administrator.
Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice-Chairman Md Anwar Hossain has been appointed as the BGMEA’s administrator.
The Commerce Ministry issued a circular in this regard on Sunday under Section 17 of the Trade Organizations Act, 2022.
The circular says that the administrator will hold a free and fair election within 120 days and then hand over responsibilities to the newly elected body.
After SM Mannan Kochi resigned as the president of the BGMEA Board of Directors the board was restructured on August 24, 2024, with elections having allegations of fraud.
The restructured board representatives have failed to satisfactorily answer the complaints raised by the general members.
Under Section 17 of the Trade Organization Act 2022, the government dissolved the restructured board of the BGMEA and appointed an administrator.
The board's lack of coordination makes it evident that, under Section 17(1) of the Trade Organization Act 2022, the organization’s overall operations are not being conducted in the best interests of business, industry, trade, and services.
Although the commerce ministry said in the notification that the board failed to take actions against unrest in the RMG sector. However, nearly 100% of factories have resumed operations, normalizing the situation in recent days.
On August 24, Designtex Group Managing Director Khandoker Rafiqul Islam was elected as the president of BGMEA following the resignation of SM Mannan Kochi.
Kochi was elected BGMEA president on March 14 for the 2024-26 term.
The association's board elected Rafiqul president to complete the remaining term.
On 20 August, the group that lost the election months ago, called for the current board to be dissolved and an interim committee to be set up to ensure a free, fair, and credible election for the trade body.
In a letter to the Commerce Ministry, the panel claimed that the February BGMEA election was marred by irregularities and strongly influenced by the Hasina government at the time.
The panel leaders also claimed that Kochi had close ties with the former prime minister and was involved in attacks on students during their protests in July and August. Since the change in government, he has gone into hiding.
After the Awami League government was removed on August 5, several cases, including one for murder, were filed against Kochi.
Md Anwar Hossain, additional secretary to Bangladesh, assumed the role of CEO and vice-chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), on June 30, 2024.
Previously, he served as the wing chief of the World Bank Wing in the Economic Relations Division (ERD).
He entered the administration cadre through the 15th BCS in 1995.
He earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Economics from Dhaka University and a master's degree with distinction in Development Economics from Williams College, USA.
He has been actively involved in ensuring Bangladesh's smooth and sustainable graduation from the LDC category.
He is an expert in public policy and economic analysis, macroeconomic management, project management, and procurement and supply chain management.
