Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Khandoker Rafiqul Islam will serve as the president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).
The apparel apex body BGMEA’s board at an emergency meeting held on Saturday at a city hotel elected Mr Islam as the new president after SM Mannan Kochi – who was elected BGMEA president on March 14 for the term of 2024-26 – resigned on the same day, according to a statement.
Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, managing director of Designtex Knitwear Ltd, was the senior vice president of BGMEA board and he will now be replaced by Abdullah Hil Rakib, managing director of 4A Yarn Dyeing Ltd.
The meeting also elected Asif Ashraf, managing director of Urmi Garments Ltd, who was a director of the existing board.
The statement added that Mr Kochi resigned from the post of president citing personal reasons and his illness.
The resignation of Mr Kochi, also the general secretary of the Dhaka North City Awami League, followed that of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 05 amid a mass uprising.
Earlier on August 12, a group of BGMEA members led by Forum – a panel that contested the BGMEA election, demanded that Mr Kochi resign and dissolve his board due to the controversial role during the recent students’ quota-reforms movement.
BBN/SSR/AD