BGMEA election: Panel proposes forced savings to ensure timely worker payments
New BGMEA board term to begin 29 May; 70+ candidates from 2 panels contest 35 posts
To prevent delays in wage payments to garment workers, Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, leader of the "Forum" panel and former vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has proposed introducing a "forced savings" system for factories.
Speaking at a press conference held at a hotel in the capital today, Babu outlined his panel's vision ahead of the upcoming BGMEA election.
He said, "There are about 3,000 active BGMEA member factories. Of these, only around 1% – or even fewer – struggle to pay wages before Eid. We plan to introduce a 'forced savings' mechanism to ensure timely salary payments across the sector."
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While he did not elaborate on how the system would be implemented, Babu suggested it would help address recurring issues of wage-related unrest.
Every year, especially before Eid, the garment sector often witnesses incidents of labour unrest, road blockades, and government intervention due to delayed wage payments. Such events frequently cause embarrassment for compliant factory owners and put additional pressure on the government.
In his remarks, Babu also criticised what he described as harassment by customs authorities during audits, saying, "It seems this has become a part of our lives." As a solution, he proposed outsourcing audits to professional firms and called for the introduction of a digital clearance system to streamline import and export procedures.
He further expressed confidence in the industry's resilience, stating that if Bangladesh could navigate tariff challenges during the Trump administration, it could handle future trade barriers as well.
The upcoming BGMEA board term begins on 29 May, with over 70 candidates from two major panels – "Sammilita Parishad" and "Forum" – contesting 35 director positions.
Responding to journalists' questions, Mahmud Hasan Khan said, "If elected, I will work to build an accountable BGMEA. I am not contesting this election for personal gain."
The press conference was also attended by industry figures including MA Rahim Feroz, former BGMEA vice-president and vice chairman of DBL Group; Faisal Samad, former vice-president and managing director of Surma Garments; and ABM Shamsuddin, managing director of Hannan Group.
