Md Fazlul Haque, former president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and managing director of Plummy Fashions Limited, has formally taken charge as administrator of the country’s top trade body, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).
In response to a long-standing demand from business circles, a private-sector entrepreneur has been given the role instead of a government official.
He took charge on Sunday morning at the FBCCI building in Motijheel, Dhaka. He later held a meeting with federation officials for a preliminary discussion on the organisation’s next steps.
Earlier, in an office order on 26 July, the Trade Organisation-1 branch of the Ministry of Commerce appointed Md Fazlul Haque as FBCCI administrator under Section 17 of the Trade Organisation Act, 2022. The order said he was given the role to maintain the continuity of the organisation’s activities and in the interest of the country’s industry and trade.
Under the government’s directive, within 120 days of taking charge he must organise a fair, impartial and acceptable election following the Trade Organisation Act 2022, the Trade Organisation Rules 2025, the Companies Act 1994 and the FBCCI’s memorandum and articles of association. After a new committee is formed through the election, he is directed to hand over responsibility to it and inform the Ministry of Commerce.
The FBCCI administrator’s post was previously held by Md Abdur Rahim Khan, a former additional secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. After his term ended on 27 June, the post remained vacant for about a month and a half. He had been appointed administrator in October 2025. Although he was directed to hand over responsibility to an elected leadership by organising an election within 120 days, this was not possible because of legal complications. His term was later extended by another four months in February, which ended on 26 June.
The process of appointing an FBCCI administrator began after the political changeover of 5 August 2024. At that time, a section of members launched a movement demanding the resignation of the organisation’s board of directors. Against this backdrop, the then president, Mahbubul Alam, resigned. Later, on 11 September that year, the Ministry of Commerce dissolved the board and appointed Md Hafizur Rahman, a member of the Bangladesh Competition Commission, as administrator.
Md Fazlul Haque is a well-known entrepreneur in the country’s ready-made garment sector. He serves as managing director of Plummy Fashions Limited, a Narayanganj-based eco-friendly garment manufacturer, and was previously president of the BKMEA. He is currently also associated with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Bangladesh. He has long played an active role on various issues related to the garment industry, export trade, industrial policy and business.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report