BGMEA defers reception to commerce minister

With only less than three weeks before the country's highest foreign exchange earning sector elects its new leadership, the incumbent leaders have deferred a reception to commerce minister on ground that it might influence the elections.

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) had planned the reception to the commerce minister before the election but an electoral panel of the association complained that such a thing may influence the elections as the present leadership includes leaders who would be vying in the upcoming polls.

Sammilita Parishad and Forum are jointly participating in the upcoming elections and some leaders of these two groups are executive committee members of incumbent Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) leadership.

Oikkya Jote, another panel contesting in the elections, at a press conference at a city hotel yesterday alleged the reception to the commerce minister might influence the voters.

On the other hand, BGMEA President Kutubuddin Ahmed yesterday said as Okkya Jote raised question about the scheduled reception, the association has already deferred the function and the reception will be accorded to the minister after the elections.

Sammilita Parishad and Forum formed a joint panel to participate in the polls.

"In order to protect the interest of the ordinary voters and prevent the joint panel's efforts to form BGMEA Board, we have decided to participate in the election under the Okkya Jote led by Fazlul Azim," SU Haider told the press briefing.

The BGMEA present leadership should not take any step that may have any impact on the election, he added.

Answering to a question, the Okkya Jote supporter Major (rtd) Abdul Mannan, who is also a ruling party lawmaker, said there is no conflict between Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman and the garment industries. The finance minister has had many contributions for exploring garment business in Bangladesh, he added.

Abul Quasem Haider, Zainul Abdin Farroque MP, Hasan Abdullah, Muzaffar Siddique and Engr Abu Taher were also present at the press conference.