Siddiqur Rahman new President of BGMEA

Siddiqur Rahman has been chosen, without election, to lead export-focused garment industrialists' lobby BGMEA for next one year.

He is taking charge of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) from outgoing president Atiqul Islam in a compromise deal.

Rahman and the other members of the Board of Directors will take over in the Annual General Meeting on Sep 22, according to a media statement issued on Wednesday by Election Board Chairman Jahangir Alamin.

Generally, the BGMEA elects office-bearers for two years.

The balloting was slated for Sep 8 but it did not take place as the contenders, Sammilito Parishad and Forum, decided to split the term of presidency instead of fighting it out.

Sterling Denims Ltd Managing Director Rahman from the Sammilito Parishad will helm it for the one-year 2015-16 term. He was a vice-president on the outgoing committee.

One selected from the Forum will be in charge of the association for the next one year.

In the new committee, the numbers of directors and vice-presidents have been increased from 27 to 35 and four to seven, respectively.

There will be 26 directors from Dhaka and nine from Chittagong.

In the last election, 54 from the two panels contested 27 posts of directors.

On the last day to withdraw nominations on Aug 15, three contenders withdrew their bid and 35 were made directors uncontested.

Election Board Chairman Alamin, a former chief of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, said only Rahman from the directors made a bid for the presidency.

"He has been declared the president as there was no other contestant," he added.

Moinuddin Ahmed has been made the first vice-president and Faruque Hassan senior vice-president.

SM Mannan Kochi, Mohammed Nasir, Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu, Ferdous Perves Bivon and Md Ferdous have been made vice-presidents.