Bangladesh government has appointed Md. Anwar Hossain, vice-chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), as the administrator of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) following the resignation of its president, SM Mannan Kochi, on August 24. Despite a new board being formed after Kochi’s departure, the commerce ministry deemed the board’s formation faulty and cited ongoing unrest, including labor disputes, as impacting the economy.
In a circular, the ministry explained that the reconstituted board failed to address complaints from general members and was unable to manage the situation effectively. As a result, the government decided to intervene and appoint an administrator to restore order.
Mr. Hossain’s primary responsibility will be to facilitate a free, fair, and credible election within 120 days. Mr. Hossain confirmed that he would begin discussions with BGMEA members to create an environment conducive to elections.
BGMEA has been facing internal strife, with protests from the Forum panel challenging the credibility of the March 2023 election results, in which the ‘Sammilito Parishad’ won all director posts. Labor unrest in recent months further exacerbated tensions, leading to production losses of around $400 million.
Mr. Hossain aims to swiftly conduct elections and hand over leadership to elected representatives, bringing stability to BGMEA, the country’s largest trade body, which contributes over 84 percent to national exports and employs more than four million workers.
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