Online Desk:  The biennial election of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is underway on Saturday to elect the new executive committee for the period of 2024-26.

The voting started at 10:00 am and will continue till 5:00 pm at the BGMEA’s Dhaka and Chattogram offices.

A total of 2,051 voters in the Dhaka zone and 512 voters in the Chattogram zone will cast their votes to elect 35 directors for the new board.

Two panels — Sammilito Parishad and Forum — are contesting in the elections. SM Mannan is the panel leader of the Sammilito Parishad and Faisal Samad is the panel leader of the Forum.

A total of 70 candidates are vying for 35 director posts under the two panels.

Of the 35 directors, 26 will be picked up from Dhaka while nine will be elected from Chattogram region.

On 4 December last year, the BGMEA board of directors formed a three-member election board headed by Jahangir Alamin, former president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).

It also formed a three-member election appellate board headed by Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) President Kamran T Rahman.

The voters in Dhaka region will cast their ballots in booths installed at BGMEA Uttara office, while the voters in Chattogram region will cast votes at the trade body’s regional office in the port city.