690 BGMEA members removed from active factory list for renewal

The Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) currently has 1,806 active members, according to the latest update following an audit by Hoda Vasi Chowdhury & Co.

Of the active members, 1,482 are from the Dhaka zone, including 58 under review, while 324 are from the Chattogram zone, including 22 under review, according to the audit report.

As of 10 February, 690 factories were removed from the list of active members due to missing documentation on their operation in the industry for membership renewal.

In the 9 March 2024 election, the voter count was 2,496, with 2,064 from Dhaka and 432 from Chattogram. The audit report suggests that the voter list for the 2025-2027 biannual election may total 1,806.

A senior BGMEA official, speaking anonymously, told The Business Standard, "We expect the voter count to increase once the electoral commission announces the preliminary list, as many factories will update their documents during the process."

BGMEA sources also said over the past year, more than 100 factories have closed due to financial difficulties and energy shortages. At the same time, a similar number of new factories have commenced operations.

Meanwhile, the commerce ministry has extended Md Anwar Hossain's tenure as BGMEA administrator for an additional four months, from 17 February to 16 June 2025, due to an incomplete election process.

It has requested elections be held before the term expires, according to a ministry notification.

Hossain was appointed on 20 October, and while an election schedule was announced, the process was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.

The tenure extension followed his application and the ministry's need for a properly conducted election under Section 17 of the Trade Organisations Act 2022.

The directive stipulates that the new board of directors must be elected at least 15 days before the extended tenure expires to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Hossain was initially appointed on 20 October after SM Mannan Kochi resigned as BGMEA president on 23 August citing medical reasons.

An emergency BGMEA board meeting on 24 August appointed Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, managing director of Designtex Group, as president.

Rafiqul, who was elected senior vice-president in the 2023 election, stepped into the role amid a leadership crisis following political upheavals, including the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government after the 5 August uprising.

A section of BGMEA members had called for Kochi's resignation, who also served as general secretary of Dhaka North City Awami League. After the government's fall, Kochi faced several legal cases, including murder charges.