The Forum panel has secured a landslide victory in the 2024–2026 Board of Directors election of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), the apex body of the country’s apparel industry. Out of the 35 director posts, Forum won 31 seats. The Sammilito Parishad secured only 4 seats, while the Oikko Parishad failed to win any.
The election results were announced by the Election Board at around 11 PM on Saturday, May 31, 2025, following the vote count. The Election Board was chaired by Mohammad Iqbal, with members Syed Afzal Hossain and Ashraf Ahmed.
Three panels participated in this year’s election—Forum, Sammilito Parishad, and Oikko Parishad. A total of 76 candidates contested for 35 director positions in Dhaka and Chattogram regions. While Forum and Sammilito Parishad fielded full panels, Oikko Parishad nominated candidates for only 6 positions.
The Forum panel was led by Mahmud Hasan Khan, Managing Director of Rising Fashions Ltd. Sammilito Parishad was led by Md. Abul Kalam, MD of Chaity Group, and Oikko Parishad was led by Mohammad Mohsin, Chairman of Romo Fashion Today.
In the Dhaka region, Forum won 25 out of 26 director posts. The only seat won by Sammilito Parishad in Dhaka went to candidate Faruque Hassan. The winning Forum candidates from Dhaka are:
Mahmud Hasan Khan, Shah Raid Chowdhury, Mizanur Rahman, M A Rahim, Faisal Samad, Mohammad Abdus Salam, Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Md. Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury, Enamul Haque Khan, Md. Hasib Uddin, Mohammad Sohel, Sheikh H M Mostafiz, Vidiya Amrit Khan, Jowaddar Mohammad Hosne Kamar Alam, A B M Shamsuddin, Nafis-ud-Doula, Sumaiya Islam, Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Mazumder Arifur Rahman, Fahima Akhter, Asef Kamal Pasha, Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, Rumana Rashid, Samiha Azim, and Rezwan Selim.
In the Chattogram region, Forum secured 6 out of 9 seats. The winners are:
Selim Rahman, M Mahiuddin Chowdhury, Sakif Ahmed Salam, Md. Sharif Ullah, Mohammad Rafique Chowdhury, and Enamul Aziz Chowdhury.
From Sammilito Parishad, the elected candidates are:
Syed Mohammad Tanvir, S M Taiyob, and Rakibul Alam Chowdhury.
In Dhaka, Forum leader Mahmud Hasan Khan received the highest number of votes—1,149. In Chattogram, the top vote-getter was Selim Rahman.
Voting began at 8 AM and continued until 4 PM on Saturday, May 31, 2025. Voting was conducted simultaneously at Radisson Blu Water Garden in Dhaka and Radisson Blu Bay View Hotel in Chattogram. Around 87.5% of the 1,864 eligible voters cast their ballots. The election took place under tight security. Voters were allowed entry only after verifying their identification. While journalists were not permitted inside the polling stations, the voting process was broadcast digitally.
According to the election schedule, the election for the positions of President and Vice Presidents will be held on June 11. The newly elected board will officially take charge on June 16.
