According to sources, leaders of three major groups Forum led by Annisul Huq, Sammilito Parishad led by Tipu Munshi and Sammilito Parishad led by Fazlul Hoque have agreed to form a common panel in the next polls. The leaders will soon announce the common panel and urge the BGMEA electorate to vote for their candidates.

As per an understanding among them, Forum will have 12 members, Sammilito Parishad (Tipu group) 10 and Sammilito Parishad (Fazlul Hoque group) 5 members in the 27-member executive committee of BGMEA.

If the united panel wins the race, three top leaders from these groups will act as the president of the country's largest trade body for an eight-month tenure each.

Moreover, Forum will nominate its candidate for the BGMEA presidency for the first eight months but it could not finalise its candidate until now as the incumbent president Annisul Huq is unwilling to continue in this post anymore.

"I have done my job and don't want to continue as the BGMEA president. I am ready to support the new leadership," Huq told The Daily Star on Thursday.

"I have tried my best to get duty free access to the US market. I will also help the next leadership from outside to continue the effort if it wants me," he went on.

On the other hand, Tipu Munshi, who is leading a fraction of Sammilito Parishad, will act as BGMEA president for the second eight months while SM Fazlul Hoque, leader of another fraction of Sammilito Parishad, will lead top trade body in the third eight months in the two-year term.

According to the final list of eligible candidates, a total of 75 will vie for the 27-member policymaking committee of BGMEA.

Earlier, Annisul Huq-led Forum and Tipu-led Sammilito Parishad announced full 27-member panels but Fazlul Hoque-led panel announced a 21-member panel.

The BGMEA election commission on January 29, the last date of withdrawing nominations, finalised list of eligible candidates to contest in the polls, as top leaders of these three groups could not reach a consensus.

A total of 2,227 voters will exercise their right to elect the new leadership 20 directors from Dhaka zone and seven from Chittagong zone for 2005-2006 term.

Last BGMEA election was held on January 28, 2003. Forum and Sammilito Parishad, at that time, formed an alliance and fought against Oikko Jote. Just on the day before election, Oikko Jote decided to boycott the polls. The alliance jointly led by Annisul Huq and Quazi Moniruzzaman won the election and shared the power. Quazi Moniruzzaman ran BGMEA as president in the first year and Annisul Huq is now leading this trade body for the second year.