The biennial election for the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is set to take place on May 28.

The country’s leading trade body for the apparel sector, which is the largest contributor to foreign exchange earnings, will elect a new board of directors for 35 positions for the 2025-27 term.

The election schedule was officially announced by the election board on March 8.

Earlier, on February 27, the BGMEA support committee convened a meeting during which it formed a three-member election board, with Mohammad Iqbal, former chairman of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), appointed as its head.

The committee also established an election appellate board, comprising three members and chaired by Syed Nasim Manzur, president of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh and managing director of Apex Footwear Limited.

According to the election schedule, BGMEA members have until March 29 to pay their annual subscription fees.

Candidates can submit their nomination papers by April 24, with the deadline for withdrawal set for May 6.

Typically, two panels—Sammilito Parishad and Forum—contest the BGMEA election.

On October 20, the interim government appointed Md Anwar Hossain, Vice Chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), as the administrator for the BGMEA, dissolving the previous board to ensure a free and fair election within 120 days.

His tenure has recently been extended for an additional four months, until June 16 this year.

On August 24, Designtex Group Managing Director Khandoker Rafiqul Islam was elected BGMEA president following the resignation of SM Mannan Kochi.

Kochi had been elected president for the 2024-26 term on March 14, but Rafiqul Islam was appointed to complete the remainder of the term.

The BGMEA election held on March 9 last year sparked controversy, with allegations of tampering with the voter lists and accusations that the Sheikh Hasina-led government had influenced the election’s outcome.

Meanwhile, leaders of one of the BGMEA panels, Forum, at a view exchange meeting and Iftar programme held on Saturday in the city, called for the establishment of a separate ministry for the country’s textile and apparel industry.

They argued that such a ministry would be essential to devise the necessary policies to address both local and global challenges.

Speaking at the event, Forum panel leader Mahmud Hassan Khan said that the sector requires policy support for a defined period.

He also expressed concerns about ongoing conspiracies against the garment industry, citing frequent incidents of labour unrest and calling for an investigation into whether political instigation was behind these disruptions.

Babu alleged harassment related to customs audits and advocated for a separate ministry to address these issues and develop sustainable policies.

Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, general secretary of Forum, cited media reports alleging the presence of over 700 fake voters in the previous election, describing it as a matter of shame.

He expressed hope that the next BGMEA election would be fair and widely accepted.

Former BGMEA president Anisur Rahman Sinha emphasised the role of the trade body in helping the government understand the challenges faced by the industry, including external factors.

He said that the issues were not effectively communicated to the government, leaving factory owners feeling demoralised.

Rubana Huq, also a former BGMEA president, highlighted the absence of an exit policy for factory owners, stressing the need for a system to allow troubled factory owners to exit the business.

Speakers at the event also called for strong BGMEA leadership to help the sector navigate its current challenges and work towards overcoming them.