Md Abul Kalam, Sammilito Parishad panel leader and managing director of Chaity Group, has unveiled plans to establish a dedicated "Green funding desk" within BGMEA as part of his election manifesto.
He announced this initiative and outlined his panel's vision for the upcoming BGMEA election during a press conference on Wednesday, where his forum presented a 12-point manifesto.
The initiative aims to help factories, particularly SMEs, access sustainability funds while advocating for single-digit interest rates for RMG exporters.
He said: “This desk will support documentation for financial access across various types of banks. We will advocate for policy reforms to reduce loan interest rates for RMG exporters to single-digit levels, which will improve affordability and access to working capital.”
“The ready-made garment industry needs effective leadership to reach its $100 billion export target, leaders who can collaborate efficiently with workers, entrepreneurs, and international partners by integrating experience, courage, and youthful energy,” he added.
The panel leader also said: “This is not just an election manifesto, it is a timely and realistic roadmap that will transform the garment industry into a smart and future-fit industry.”
Former Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) president and Chief Coordinator of the Sammilito Parishad elections, Faruque Hassan, highlighted their various achievements for the RMG industry under their (Sammilito Parishad) leadership during the conference.
Sammilito Parishad 12-point election manifesto:
- SME support cell and policy advocacy
- Utility security and an alternate incentive package
- Building the apparel workforce of industry 4.0: Upskilling mid-level managers
- Access to finance: Green funding desk and banking support
- Market and product diversification: Expanding Bangladesh's reach beyond traditional markets and beyond cotton products
- Alternate incentive benefit policy for post-LDC competitiveness and backward linkage strengthening
- Trade Facilitation and NBR Reform: Bond access, VAT simplification, and regulatory ease
- Export competitiveness, policy intelligence cell and digital transformation center
- Social compliance enhancement program, toward a unified code of conduct
- Green Transformation with business value: Circularity, renewable energy, decarbonization, and competitive differentiation
- Made in Bangladesh, premium edition: Repositioning Bangladesh in the global market
- Trade diplomacy and responsible exit policy
Sammilito Parishad Candidates
Earlier, a 35-member panel, led by the panel leader and Managing Director of Chaity Group, Md Abul Kalam, Sammilito Parishad, has announced its panel of candidates for the upcoming BGMEA elections.
The panel includes two former BGMEA presidents, Faruque Hassan and Khandoker Rafiqul Islam.
The BGMEA Election Board has finalized the list of candidates.
43 candidates from Sammilito Parishad had submitted 44 nomination papers.
Following the usual tradition, the panel leader submitted two nomination papers, and on the last date for withdrawal, other candidates withdrew their nominations in line with the group's decisions.
The election will be held on May 31 simultaneously in both the Dhaka and Chittagong regions.
Sammilita Parishad's rival panel is the Forum.
