Giant Group's Faruque Hassan takes charge as BGMEA president

Faruque Hassan, managing director of Giant Group, has taken charge as the president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) for 2021-23.

Hassan had earlier served BGMEA as director for two consecutive tenures 2001-2002, 2003-2004 and vice president for two consecutive terms from 2009-2010, 2011-2012 and subsequently as senior vice-president.

As president of Dutch Bangla Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DBCCI), the first bilateral chamber in Bangladesh, Hassan has extensive experience serving as the vice president of the French Chamber, alongside being involved in the German and Switzerland Chambers in Bangladesh.

Soon after winning the election early this month, Hassan said that BGMEA will work closely with the government and the European Union to retain duty-free market access in the region up to 2031, after the LDC graduation in 2026.

"My vision of BGMEA is to ensure that it becomes an organisation that prioritises service delivery for its members, where its members can receive them without any hassle," Hassan was quoted by Bangladeshi media as saying.

Along with Hassan, the newly elected board of directors has also taken charge. The new office bearers are Syed Nazrul Islam, first vice president; SM Mannan (Kochi), senior vice president; Md. Shahidullah Azim, vice president; Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, vice president (Finance); Miran Ali, vice president; Md. Nasir Uddin, vice president; and Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, vice president.

Other board of directors are Rubana Huq, MA Rahim (Feroz), Arshad Jamal (Dipu), Mahmud Hasan Khan (Babu), Shehrin Salam Oishee, Asif Ashraf, Md. Mohiuddin Rubel, Asif Ibrahim, Tanvir Ahmed, Md. Khosru Chowdhury, Faisal Samad, Abdullah Hil Rakib, Haroon Ar Rashid, Navidul Huq, Rajiv Chowdhury, Vidiya Amrit Khan, Inamul Haq Khan (Bablu), Md. Imranur Rahman, Mijanur Rahman, Md. Sajjadur Rahman Mridha (Shipon), Md. M Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Mohammed Abdus Salam, Tanvir Habib, AM Shafiul Karim (Khokon), Md. Hassan (Jacky), M Ahsanul Hoq, and Mohammed Meraj-E-Mostafa (Kaisar).