The government on Sunday appointed Md Anwar Hossain, vice-chairman of the Export Promotion Bureau, as the administrator of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The appointment was confirmed through an office order issued by the commerce ministry, signed by its additional secretary Abdur Rahim Khan.

According to the directive, the administrator was tasked with conducting a fair and impartial election within 120 days, transferring responsibilities to the newly elected committee, and notifying the ministry upon completion.

The order highlighted that following the resignation of SM Mannan Kochi as BGMEA chairman, a new board was formed, but the formation process was deemed flawed.

Kochi, who was elected BGMEA president on 14 March for the 2024-2026 term, resigned on 23 August, citing health concerns. In response, the BGMEA board held an emergency meeting on 24 August in Dhaka.

During the meeting, Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, managing director of Designtex Group, was appointed as the new BGMEA president.

Rafiqul had previously been elected as the senior vice-president in the most recent election.

Additionally, the emergency meeting appointed Abdullah Hil Rakib, managing director of Team Group, as senior vice-president and Asif Ashraf, managing director of Urmi Group, as vice-president.

Rakib had previously served as a BGMEA vice-president, while Asif was a board director.

Amid significant political upheaval, including the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina government following a mass uprising on 5 August, some BGMEA members called for Kochi’s resignation.

After the fall of the Awami League government, Kochi became entangled in several legal cases, including one related to murder charges.