Newly elected president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Rubana Huq has taken charge of the association.
Outgoing BGMEA President Siddiqur Rahman handed over the charge to Rubana at the trade body's 36th annual general meeting at its new office in the city’s Uttara on Saturday (Apr 20).
Rubana, managing director of Mohammadi Group, is the first woman to have been elected for the position in the trade body's history.
She is the wife of late Dhaka North City Corporation mayor and former BGMEA president Annisul Huq.
Speaking at the event, Rubana warned Accord, the factory inspection mechanism set up by European fashion labels, to work in line with BGMEA’s terms.
“The Accord has to abide by the BGNEA’s terms if it wants to stay in Bangladesh,” she said before urging factory owners to work together for the welfare of the workers.
Rubana will lead the trade body for the next two years.
Her panel, Sammilita Forum, won all 35 available posts for directors in the BGMEA election held on Apr 6.
The outgoing president of the apex trade body, Siddiqur Rahman, served as head of BGMEA for three years and seven months.