With just days to go before the May 10 Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) election, the Progressive Knit Alliance — the only panel in the race — unveiled an ambitious 15-point manifesto on Wednesday, vowing to tackle key industry challenges and drive the country’s knitwear exports into new and emerging markets.

A total of 38 candidates, including 35 from the alliance and three independents, are competing in the election for the 2025–2027 term.

The alliance panel leader Mohammad Hatem, also the current BKMEA president, announced the manifesto at a programme held at a city hotel.

He said that his panel would work to create an environment for rational discussions with the government and relevant ministries to restart the import of yarn through land ports.

Hatem said that this move was essential to ensure a dynamic production system and improve lead times in the country’s export-oriented knitwear sector.

Among the top priorities are eliminating customs complications, simplifying bond and raw material import procedures and engaging with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to push for transparent and accountable policies.

The manifesto included promises to address the complexity of HS codes, remove barriers in the import of raw materials and exports under free-of-cost (FOC) system and ease the supply of bonded goods to non-bonded establishments.

It also called for pressing non-bonded firms to obtain bond licences, which would facilitate greater export capacity.

Hatem said that although factories in the 100 per cent export sector currently benefit from VAT exemptions, many businesses were still facing harassment over VAT-related issues.

He promised that his panel would work closely with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to address these problems and push for necessary reforms.

He further pointed out that the current taxation system was neither investment- nor business-friendly and, in his view, went against the basic principles of taxation and fundamental rights.

Hatem pledged that, if elected, the panel would engage with the NBR to push for comprehensive tax reforms, simplify tax assessment procedures, and stabilise tax rates over the long term to provide greater certainty for businesses.

In addition, Hatem promised that the panel would take steps to eliminate various complications in the banking sector.

He said they would continue consultations with Bangladesh Bank and other concerned ministries to develop policies that are more supportive of exporters, ensuring smoother financial operations for the industry.

To reduce the sector’s dependence on traditional markets such as Europe and America, the panel had pledged to explore non-traditional destinations and expand marketing initiatives, including agreements with global online platforms.

Diversifying apparel offerings to include more high-value products, negotiating with the RSC Board to simplify factory upgrade policies and addressing unethical buying practices by buyers had been among the panel’s other major commitments.

Hatem highlighted the importance of blacklisting buyers who engaged in malpractice, such as forcing discounts, failing to pay after receiving goods, or cancelling purchase orders post-shipment.

The panel also promised to strengthen the sector’s resilience against external disruptions, including foreign customs issues, environmental disasters, and geopolitical conflicts.

It made a commitment to promote the positive image of the knitwear sector globally, safeguarding worker rights while maintaining a firm stance against unfair demands and supporting any justified worker movements.

The panel had included in its agenda the goal of ensuring uninterrupted gas supply by resolving the ongoing energy crisis, supporting SME development through improved access to credit, training, and marketing, and partnering with the government and industry stakeholders to shape national and international policy.

The alliance pledged to pursue the construction of a permanent BKMEA building in Dhaka, which they saw as a symbol of the association’s growing stature and institutional strength.