The leaders of the Sammilita Parishad, a contesting panel for the upcoming biennial election of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that the BGMEA office will never again become a platform for any political party.
They also said that they are businessmen who conduct business with dignity and self-respect, and they would never stoop to shameless sycophancy of any political party.
They were speaking at a meet the press event, organised by the Parishad on Thursday in the capital.
The biennial election of the BGMEA for the 2025-27 tenure is scheduled to be held on May 31.
Kazi Maniruzzaman, president of the Sammilita Parishad panel, said that if they can succeed in forming the board, the era of shameless flattery within trade bodies will be ended forever.
鈥楧uring the previous government, not only BGMEA but almost all trade bodies in the country turned into political party strongholds. We are determined to close that chapter for good,鈥� he added.
Md Abul Kalam, panel leader of the Sammilita聽 Parishad, said that the global trade system is facing significant challenges, particularly due to the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US administration and other economic issues.
Moreover, a set of domestic issues including rising fuel prices, gas shortages, complexities related to customs, bonds, and banking, along with the LDC graduation plan, may further intensify the challenges.
鈥業n this regard, if we can form the board, we will advocate for industry-friendly policy support from the government and to sustain continuous export growth by navigating the arove issues,鈥� he added.
He also said that Sammilita Parishad will work for the digital transformation of the BGMEA, training for new entrepreneurs, sustainable planning for SME factories, and to bring back the weak and closed factories in the operations.
Faruque Hassan, coordinator of the Parishad and Shovon Islam, a candidate of the election also spoke at the event where other candidates, senior leaders were also present.
