The biennial election of the apparel trade body Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for the term 2021-23 was held on Sunday.
The voting in the election started at 9:00 pm at Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden hotel in the capital.
A total of 984 BGMEA Dhaka members out of 1,853 cast their votes, while some 325 BGMEA Chattogram members out of 461 voted at the BGMEA Complex in the port city until 3:00 pm, according to the latest update of the trade body's election board.
Due to deterioration in pandemic, the BGMEA election board has extended the duration of voting by three hours. Voters can cast their vote from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm at 14 booths, sources said. Two panels -- Sammilita Parishad and Forum -- are contesting the BGMEA election.
Faruque Hassan, managing director of Giant Group and former vice-president of the trade body, is leading the Sammilita Parishad while ABM Shamsuddin, chairman of Hannan Group and former vice-president of BGMEA is leading the Forum panel.
Incumbent BGMEA President Dr Rubuna Huq is also contesting the polls for directorship.
The elections for the president, seven vice-presidents and office-bearers will be held on April 16. The new board will take charge of the trade body on April 20. The last biennial election of the trade body was held in 2013.
The election is usually scheduled every two years. However, it was not held in 2015 since both Sammilita Parishad and Forum panels jointly decided to elect the board.
Later, on September 22 2015, Md Siddiqur Rahman became the BGMEA president and served as the head of the apparel apex trade body for three years and seven months.
There was a consensus between the two panels to reserve the leadership for two terms.
The current board under the leadership of Dr Rubana Huq assumed office on April 21, 2019, for a two-year term.
The BGMEA, with around 4,500 members, is being run by a 35-member board of directors, including seven vice-presidents.