A section of BGMEA members including its former presidents have requested the commerce minister not to extend the tenure of current board again. The current board under the leadership of its president, Md Siddiqur Rahman, assumed office on September 22, 2015 through a negotiation process for a two-year term.

The board of the trade body got its first extension (six months) from the commerce ministry on the grounds that BGMEA had to relocate its headquarters as the Supreme Court declared its building on Hatirjheel Lake illegal and ordered to demolish it within six months. The illegally built headquarters of the trade body is yet to be demolished as the Supreme Court later extended time for the apparel sector trade body for its demolition.

After the six-month extended tenure the government had further extended the tenure of the BGMEA board for one more year and allowed the existing board to remain in office up to March 22, 2019. Forum, a platform of the BGMEA members, alleged that the incumbent president was trying to extend his tenure for the third time.

BGMEA members said as the tenure of the current committee would end on March 22 next year; the election schedule would have to be announced by December 22 this year as per the articles of association of the trade body.