Executive committee and members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association on Thursday expressed concerns over the security of the trade body and the industry following an alleged attempt to forcibly take over the current BGMEA board.
These concerns were voiced at a meeting held at the BGMEA head office at Uttara in the capital on the day, attended by many general members and BGMEA leaders, said a press release.
The meeting, presided over by BGMEA acting president Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, aimed to address the security of the apparel apex body and the broader situation of the garment industry.
Over 150 members participated in the discussion.
On Wednesday, a group of BGMEA members led by former vice-president Faisal Samad submitted a memorandum to the current board, expressing their no-confidence in the existing board of directors.
They called for the appointment of an interim board that was honest, efficient and non-political, citing a loss of confidence in the existing board due to its controversial actions during the recent quota reform movement.
The BGMEA issued a statement on Wednesday night, alleging that around 2:30pm, there was an attempted hostile takeover of the board by members of the 鈥楩ORUM Panel鈥� and unidentified individuals.
The statement described the perpetrators as engaging in violent behaviour, including toppling the security gate, engaging in fistfights and unlawfully demanding the takeover of the current board.
In Thursday鈥檚 meeting, BGMEA general members strongly condemned the unintended incident at the BGMEA head office on August 7.
They stressed that, despite differing opinions, demands for reforms outside established norms were unacceptable.
Concerns were raised about the BGMEA鈥檚 security, highlighting that repeated incidents could negatively affect foreign buyer perceptions of both the industry and the BGMEA.
The meeting also discussed current industry challenges, including liquidity crisis in banks and its effect on timely wage payments to workers.
Discussions covered ensuring safe factory operations amidst potential vandalism risks, the situation at Chattogram port and the safety of industrial goods vehicles on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.
In the meeting, tributes were paid to the students, civilians and administrative staff who lost their lives and to those who were injured during the recent anti-discrimination student movement.
The members expressed condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
BGMEA first vice-president Syed Nazrul Islam, vice-presidents Arshad Jamal Dipu, Md Nasir Uddin and Abdullah Hill Rakib spoke at the event.
