Mohammad Hatem, panel leader of the Progressive Knit Alliance (PKA), the sole panel contesting the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) election on May 10, vowed to champion fair worker demands and streamline business operations to boost economic growth.
Addressing journalists while unveiling PKA’s 15-point manifesto, Hatem outlined reforms to enhance customs efficiency, bond facilities, and raw material imports for the knitwear sector.
Of the 38 candidates for the 2025–2027 BKMEA board, 35 are from PKA, with three running independently. Hatem emphasized supporting workers’ rights but cautioned against “unjustified” demands that violate laws and destabilise the sector. “We’re collaborating with trade unions to meet fair demands and maintain stability,” he said.
Hatem criticized bureaucratic hurdles, including complex VAT submission processes that enable harassment by law enforcement. Citing a recent incident, he alleged police seized export-laden trucks, demanding bribes or unnecessary paperwork. “This is clear harassment,” he said, pledging to simplify taxation and eliminate business barriers in collaboration with the government.
He also highlighted banking sector woes, noting excessive document demands that hinder exports. “These must be scrapped,” Hatem urged, as PKA aims to modernize systems to support the knitwear industry’s growth.