Mohammad Hatem is the new president of BKMEA

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has appointed Mohammad Hatem as the new president of knitwear industry owners, who was previously serving as the executive president. Earlier, AKM Salim Osman, who had held the post of president for 14 consecutive years, resigned.

A press release sent by BKMEA on Sunday (August 25) informed about the reshuffle in the top positions of the organization. Mohammad Hatim has served as the Vice President of BKMEA for a long time. He became the executive president in 2021.

According to the press release, the new leadership was elected at the board meeting of the organization's board of directors today at the Dhaka office of BKMEA. Earlier, AKM Salim Osman announced his resignation as the president of the organization due to physical illness, which was unanimously accepted by the board. Outgoing president Salim Osman also addressed the board meeting online.

Besides, in the new board of directors of BKMEA, Fazle Shamim Ehsan has been given the responsibility of executive president from vice president and Md. has become vice president from director. Shamsuzzaman. Mansoor Ahmed is the senior vice president of the newly formed board. Amal Poddar, Gaohar Siraj Jamil, Morshed Sarwar Sohail, Akhtar Hossain Apoorba and Mohammad Rashed are also on the post of Vice President.

Mohammad Hatim said after assuming responsibility as president, the new board of BKMEA will work with the interim government led by Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus. We will try how to increase the export of readymade garments using the image of the Chief Advisor. At the same time, we will work with the Governor of Bangladesh Bank to deal with the problems that the entrepreneurs are currently facing, such as the harassment of opening loans and getting financial assistance. And when the term of the current board is over, a new board of the organization will be formed through voting.

Salim Osman was the president of BKMEA from 20 September 2010. He was elected president last year in 2012. Then in 2014, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2023, Salim Osman became the president of the board through consensus. He was a member of Narayanganj-5 constituency in the defunct National Parliament a few days ago. His brother Shamim Osman was a Member of Parliament of Awami League in Narayanganj-4 Constituency. Due to the influential Osman family in BKMEA, the board was formed through consensus five times in a row, but the founders of the organization remained silent. Former Member of Parliament Salim Osman was holding the position of president by forming the board through compromise for a long time through political influence.

Meanwhile, SM Mannan resigned from the post of BGMEA president on Saturday (August 24). He is the General Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan (North) Awami League. After the political change, he also resigned citing physical illness. Khandkar Rafiqul Islam, Managing Director (MD) of Designtex has become the new president of the organization. He was serving as the senior vice-president for so long.

Bangladesh /KH