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Published : 31 May 2025, 10:28 AM
The Forum panel has won a landslide in the election to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), winning 31 out of 35 director posts and paving the way for Mahmud Hasan Khan to lead the apparel exporters’ lobby for the 2025–27 term.
Mahmud, managing director of Rising Fashions Ltd, is set to lead the powerful apparel industry body if the transition proceeds as expected. He received 1,149 votes in the election held on Saturday.
The rival Sammilito Parishad panel managed to win only four director posts. Among its candidates, Abul Kalam secured a seat with 666 votes, while former BGMEA president Faruque Hassan was also elected, receiving 813 votes.
A total of 76 candidates representing three panels--Forum, Sammilito Parishad, and Oikko Parishad--contested in the high-stakes election.
Voting took place simultaneously in Dhaka and Chattogram.
The final results were announced just before 1am on Sunday at the Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka by Election Board member Syed Afzal Hossain, in the presence of Board Chairman Mohammad Iqbal and member Ashraf Ahmed.
Forum candidate Faisal Ahmed was also present during the announcement.
To ensure transparency, a large screen in the media corner of the Dhaka venue displayed real-time voting updates throughout the day.
In Dhaka, 1,377 out of 1,564 eligible voters cast ballots, marking an 88.21 percent turnout. In Chattogram, 254 of 303 registered voters participated, reflecting an 83.83 percent turnout.
The newly elected board of directors will convene on Jun 2 to select the BGMEA president, vice presidents, and other office bearers.
Traditionally, the panel with the majority has seen its leader elected to the presidency.
WINNERS FROM THE FORUM
Out of the 26 director posts in Dhaka from the alliance, the other 24 winners are: Shah Rayeed Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman, Mohammad Abdur Rahim Firoz, Faisal Samad, Inamul Haq Khan, Vidiya Amrit Khan, Hasib Uddin, Rezwan Selim, Mohammed Abdus Salam, Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury, Nafis-Ud-Daula, Sumaiya Islam Rozalin, Fahima Akhtar, Majumdar Arifur Rahman, Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Sheikh HM Mostafiz, Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Mohammad Hosne Komar Alam, ABM Shamsuddin, Asef Kamal Pasha, Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, Rumana Rashid, MohammEd Sohel and Samiha Azim.
Meanwhile, out of the nine posts in the Chattogram region, six were won by the Forum panel leader Selim Rahman, who received 1,058 votes.
The others are M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Sakeef Ahmed Salam, Mohammad Saif Ullah Mansur, Mohammad Rafique Chowdhury and Enamul Aziz Chowdhury.
The remaining three posts in this region were won by Syed Mohammad Tanvir, SM Abu Tayyab and Rakibul Alam Chowdhury from the Sammilito Parishad.
