Progressive Knit Alliance sweeps BKMEA polls
The air buzzed with anticipation as knitwear industry leaders gathered at polling stations in Dhaka and Narayanganj, their ballots sealing a resounding victory for the Progressive Knit Alliance in the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) elections for the 2025-27 term.
Led by incumbent president Mohammad Hatem, the alliance clinched all 35 director posts, marking a jubilant moment for an industry that threads together livelihoods and global markets.
The elections, held Saturday at BKMEA’s Banglamotor office in Dhaka and Chashara in Narayanganj, unfolded in a festive atmosphere not seen in nearly a decade.
From 9:00am to 5:00pm, 431 of 572 eligible voters – a 75.35 per cent turnout – cast their ballots, with results announced at 7:00pm.
Narayanganj led with an 86 per cent turnout (234 of 272 voters), followed by Chattogram at 75 per cent (57 of 76), and Dhaka at 62.5 per cent (140 of 224).
“It felt like a celebration of our industry’s strength,” said voter Amal Poddar, a knitwear factory owner, as he joined colleagues outside the polling station.
Hatem’s Progressive Knit Alliance dominated, with its 35-candidate panel facing only three independent challengers: Rajib Chowdhury, former BGMEA director; Md. Jamal Uddin Mia of Zahin Knitwear; and Mohammad Nazrul Islam of JS Style BD.
Among the victors was PRAN-RFL Group Chairman and CEO Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, who secured 404 votes, alongside industry stalwarts like Mansur Ahmed, Fazle Shamim Ehsan, and Engineer Imran Quader Turjo.
From these 35 directors, nine – including the president, executive president, and seven vice-presidents—will be elected later, shaping BKMEA’s leadership.
The 35 candidates who won from the panel of current president Mohammad Hatem are - Mohammad Hatem, PRAN-RFL Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Mansur Ahmed, Fazle Shamim Ehsan, Md Shamsuzzaman, Amal Poddar, Md Morshed Sarwar, Mohammad Rashed, Ashikur Rahman, Md Jamal Uddin Mia, Khandaker Saiful Islam, Ratan Kumar Saha, Nanda Dular Saha, Md. Abdul Hannan, Engineer Imran Quader Turyo, Fakir Kamruzzaman Nahid, Mohammad Zakaria Wahid, Minhajul Haque, Engineer Belayet Hossain Ripon, Mohammad Nazrul Islam, Gauhar Siraj Jamil, Ahmed Nur Faisal, Mohammad Shamsul Azam, Fawzul Imran Khan, Mohammad Selim, Md. Shahriar Saeed, Rajib Chowdhury, Md. Mohsin Rabbani, Salah Uddin Ahmed, Md. Moniruzzaman, M. Isfaq Ahsan, Md. Mamunur Rashid, Rakib Sobhan Mia, Abdul Barek and Md. Yasin.