Sammilita Parishad, a panel of registered members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), has selected Abul Kalam as its panel leader to compete in the upcoming biennial elections for the 2025-27 term of the apex organisation of apparel owners.
Generally, BGMEA members contest in its biennial elections under two panels — Sammilita Parishad and Forum.
Abul Kalam, managing director of Chaity Group and vice president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), will contest for the leadership of the BGMEA.
Sammilita Parishad’s former presidents introduced its panel leader to industry stakeholders at an event at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dhaka today (28 November).
Kalam also has experience leading the apparel exporters’ organisation as a director during the 2011-13 tenure. He also served as president of Uttara Club twice, during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 tenures.
Chaity Group, which has over $175 million in annual exports from its 12 units, was also highlighted at the event.
During the event, former BGMEA presidents SM Fazlul Hoque, Redwan Ahmed, Qazi Moniruzzaman, Mostofa Golam Quddus, Khandoker Rafiqul Islam and Faruque Hassan spoke. Among others, BTMA President Showkat Aziz Russell also spoke at the event.
They emphasised that Kalam’s leadership would help address the pressing challenges faced by the garment sector and achieve new heights in export earnings.
They also mentioned that in the association’s 46-year journey since July 1978, 16 out of the 20 presidents were elected from Sammilita Parishad, underlining the panel’s leadership in the sector.
In his welcome speech, Faruque Hassan discussed the sector’s various developments and achievements, attributing them to the leadership of Sammilita Parishad — a platform of dedicated entrepreneurs focused on the industry’s progress rather than political affiliations. This leadership has contributed to the sector’s annual export standing at $46 billion.
Abul Kalam said, “At this moment, the sector requires stable law and order, financial support to sustain export activities, and an adequate supply of gas and electricity to keep the industry running.”
He added, “We are optimistic that, with the government’s support, we can find solutions for the sector if the members elect our panel to lead the association.”
The BGMEA board of directors was dissolved by the Ministry of Commerce on 20 October, with an administrator appointed to facilitate the transition to a newly elected board within 120 days.
