Following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in a mass uprising, a wave of regime change has hit the country’s apparel and textile sector and the apex trade bodies have started seeing new office bearers taking charge.
On August 11, Mohammad Ali Khokon, the long-serving president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), resigned from his position, and Showkat Aziz Russell took over as the new president.
Now, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President SM Mannan Kochi and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) President Salim Osman have decided to resign, multiple sources confirmed The Business Post.
BGMEA Senior Vice President Khandaker Rafiqul Islam is likely to be elected as the new president, while BKMEA Executive President Mohammad Hatem will likely replace Salim.
Kochi was in the BGMEA board for decades and was elected president on March 14 this year for the 2024-26 tenure. He is also general secretary of the Dhaka North City Awami League.
Several cases have been filed, including murder, against Kochi after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5. Kochi has denied his involvement in any violence, saying, “I’ve been very sick for the past two years.”
On the other hand, Salim Osman was elected BKMEA President in 2010 and since then, he has been in the same position. Only for him, BKMEA has amended their charter several times. He was also a member of parliament of Jatiya Party from Narayanganj-5 constituency since 2014.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) recently froze Salim’s bank accounts. His brother Awami League leader Shamim Osman has always been a controversial person in Narayanganj and several cases have been filed against him following the student revolution.
Seeking anonymity, a senior business leader, who is a member of both BGMEA and BKMEA, said, “Kochi and Salim has a good relationship with Sheikh Hasina. Now the situation is different and both have gone into hiding.
“Amid the situation, general members have asked them to resign from the post and the duo chose to meet their demand. The change may become visible within two days.”
