Ending all speculations, two panels are contesting in the upcoming Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) elections scheduled for January 26.

On the last day of withdrawal of candidature, both panels yesterday announced names of their candidates and the BGMEA election board published final list.

One panel -- Sammilita Parishad-Forum -- is jointly led by Kazi Moniruzzaman and Anisul Huq while another panel is led by Engineer Fazlul Azim under Oikkyajote banner.

A move to have a consensus BGMEA leadership faltered as a new panel named Oikkyajote wanted to contest in the upcoming elections. The new alliance was formed with some members from other groups -- Sammilita Parishad, Forum, Members Council and Progressive Forum.

According to leaders of Sammilita Parishad and Forum, the main objective of the joint panel is to share the responsibility for preparing the country's largest export-oriented sector to face the challenges of the open market after 2004.

"As we have different problems at home and our competition with other countries is going to be intensified, the BGMEA leadership needs to be more dynamic," a joint panel leader told reporters earlier.

On the other hand, according to Oikkyajote leaders, the main objective of the alliance is to build up a strong progressive leadership in the BGMEA.

"Such an alliance would also help face the post MFA (multi fibre arrangement) challenges under a powerful and effective leadership," a leader of Oikkyajote told journalist earlier.

Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury recently said the government does not want to intervene in the polls of the largest export-oriented trade association.

But a number of garment exporters say they preferred to have a consensus body. "Leaders of both panels said they want a strong a leadership to face the post MFA challenges. If leaders of both panels feel so, what made them to fight against each other?" asked a garment exporter.

The candidates of Sammilita Parishad-Forum include M Jinnat Ali Mian, Abdus Salam Murshedy, Murad Hossain (Shohel), Lutfor Rahman (Matin), Faruque Hassan, Ferdous Amin, Quazi Moniruzzaman, Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin), Mohsin Uddin Ahmed (Niru), SM Nurul Haque, ANM Saifuddin, Ishtiaque Rahman, Helal Uddin Chowdhury, Annisul Huq, Alamgir MZ Rahman, Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), M Ghulam Faruq, Ferdous Perves Bivon, Shafiqul Islam, Faisal Samad, Golam Kabir Chowdhury, Shahidul Islam, ABM Shamsuddin, Engr Aminur Rahman Khan, Shamsul Alam, Mohd A Salam and Syed Ahsanul Hoque (Shamim).

On the other hand, candidates of the Oikkyajote are Obaidul Quddus Chowdhury, Nasir Uddin, Mahmud Ali, Moinul Huq Refat, Saiful Islam, Nowsha Ahmed, Akbar Hossain, Mohammad Fazlul Azim, Abul Quasem Haider, Abdus Salam Sk, Engr Mohammad Abu Taher, Muzaffar Siddique, Iqbal Ahmed, Zainul Abdin Farroque, Ramzul Seraj, Saiful Islam, Zuber Ahmed Chowdhury, Syedul Haque Majumdar, Abu Zafar Md Akram, Mahtab Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Ashrafur Rahman, Shibbir Mahmud, Ali Ahammed, Hasan Abdullah, Fazlur Rahman, Col (rtd) M Anwarul Azim and Iftekhar Tafazzal Hossain.s