The Forum, a panel participating in the biennial polls of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said if elected, their main focus will be on building transparent and smart BGMEA, ensuring industrial safety and workers’ rights as well as reviving SMEs for the sake of sustainable apparel industry.

The leaders of the panel pledged at a programme on Monday night at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka. 2024-26 tenure is scheduled to be held on 9 March at the BGMEA complex of the capital.

A total of 35 members from the panel will participate in the biennial election. Of them, nine candidates will vie from the Chattogram zone.

Speaking at the event, Forum panel leader Faisal Samad said that the focus will be on protecting the BGMEA, garment sector for the sake of the country’s economic development.

“If elected, we will work to build a sustainable garment sector and emphasize business, banking and revenue matters so we need support from our members to win the full panel. Our panel wants to work with the Prime Minister to move the country forward,” he also said.

He added that they created the panel with youth and experienced active entrepreneurs.  “If we are elected in the polls, we promise to meet the members every three months, and the board of directors for accountable to the members,” Faisal also said.

He pointed out that the Forum wants to develop a registration culture for foreign buyers. 

Faisal announced 11 key points including ensuring compliance, buyers’ accountability and fair prices, creating a new market, exit system for the sick industry, and business facilitation, and proposing an independent ministry for the garment sector in the manifesto.

In the programme, former BGMEA president Anisur Rahman Sinha was given a lifetime award for his outstanding contribution to the garment sector. Besides, entrepreneur Rehana Parveen was awarded on the occasion of Women's Day and Chairman of AJI & AB Group M A Jalil Ananta has been an ambassador for the Panel. 

At this time, Ananta said all have to work together to solve the industry’s problems.  If Forum takes the leadership of BGMEA, all owners and workers will move forward.

Formers president Anwar-Ul Alam Chowdhury (Parvez), the panel president MA Slam, and Vice Chairman of Newage Fashionwear Ltd Asif Ibrahim also among others spoke at the event.