The administrator and two panels of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) have reached a consensus to hold the election of the garment exporters' platform in April this year.

This month, an updated list of voters will be published, and an election board will be formed, BGMEA Administrator Md Anwar Hossain told The Daily Star.

"If all stakeholders cooperate with us, we will be able to hold the election on time as per our plan," Hossain said.

He shared the information after a meeting with the leaders of the BGMEA, held at the association's office in Uttara, Dhaka.

The leaders of both panels — Sammilita Parishad and Forum — agreed to hold the election by April, as the apparel sector has been going through some crises, said former BGMEA President Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, who was present at the meeting.

An elected leadership is now required to deal with labor issues, especially with the Eid festivals approaching, as well as many other issues that the administrator cannot handle, he added.

The trade body's last election was held on March 9 last year. However, the board was reconstituted on August 5 of the same year following the fall of the Awami League government, and an administrator was appointed to manage the association.

Initially, the BGMEA administrator was instructed to hold an election within 90 days of his appointment. However, the election did not take place within the stipulated timeframe, and the administrator's tenure was extended to complete the process.

Additionally, the BGMEA and the administrator of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) have recently sought amendments to the trade organization rules.

For example, they proposed electing the BGMEA president directly without involving the two panels, limiting presidents to no more than two consecutive terms, and reducing the number of directors in the trade bodies.

In the BGMEA election, Sammilita Parishad and Forum will compete for 35 director posts, who will later select the association's president for a two-year term.

Under the current election rules for major trade bodies, including the FBCCI, the president is elected indirectly. The winning panel in the election selects the president from among the elected directors.

Similarly, over the past several years, the number of directors in trade bodies like the FBCCI has been increased several times to help people secure influential positions.

Both the administrators of the FBCCI and BGMEA have recently pointed out the presence of numerous fictitious names in the current voter lists of the trade bodies.

They noted that many businesses have ceased operations, some business owners have left the country, and many others have retired from trade.

For instance, the number of voters in the BGMEA has surpassed 3,375, while the current number of active garment factories under this trade body is around 2,100, according to the administrator.

He urged BGMEA members to submit their documents by January 31 this year to help create an accurate voter list.

Genuine businessmen must submit their tax return certificates, updated trade licenses, and a few other documents to qualify as eligible voters for the election, he said.