Photo : Collected
Adzi Trims Managing Director Al Shariar-led Oikko Parishad has clinched a landslide victory in the first-ever direct polls of Bangladesh Garment Accessories and Packaging Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGAPMEA) for the 2024-26 term.
In the polls, Oikko Parishad secured 14 directorial posts from Dhaka and Chattogram while its rival Active Members’ Union panel got seven. Polls were held on Saturday in Dhaka and Chattogram centres.
Panel leader Shariar got 257 votes and Moniruzzaman Molla, a director candidate of Oikko Parishad, secured the highest 286 votes among the candidates. On the election night, Chairman of the election board Md Razzaqul Islam, also the deputy secretary of the commerce ministry, announced the results.
According to the election board, 425 voters exercised their votes among 460 in two zones. Meanwhile, the apex trade body of the country’s RMG backward linkage industry experienced its first-ever direct voting in 33 years of its inception. Earlier, the board was formed through mutual agreement and selection.
In an immediate reaction, panel leader of Oikko Parishad and President-elect of the BGAPMEA Al Shariar said that they are grateful to the voters for keeping faith in them and the other members of the panel.
“Now it is time to make deliver on the promises made in our manifesto. Whoever wins or loses in the polls, we will work together in the next two years. We believe that if we work together, we would be able to build a smart BGAPMEA,” he added.
He further said that from now on, he will no longer be a panel leader of Oikko Parishad. Rather, he will be the president of all members of the trade body and his responsibility is to work for every single member of the BGAPMEA.
The apex body of the apparel background linkage sector contributes nearly $8 billion annually to the country's exports. Oikko Parishad and Active Members’ Union contested the polls for 16 directorial posts for Dhaka and 5 for Chattogram. Now the newly elected board of directors will elect the president, the first vice-president, the senior vice-president, and other office bearers.
As the Oikko Parishad was able to secure a majority in the polls, its panel leader Al Shariar will be the president of the BGAPMEA. Active Member’s Union panel, the other panel that got seven directorial positions, was led by Poly Plan Ltd MD Nasirul Alam.
The last president of the organisation, Moazzem Hossain, was removed on September 5 last year due to cross-complaints and lawsuits between the leaders. Then the commerce ministry appointed an administrator.
