Dhaka: As the 6 months’ time given by the Supreme Court to demolish the building of Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) expires on September 11, BGMEA leaders are seeking another year to vacate the building.

BGMEA President Md Siddiqur Rahman came up with the demand at a press briefing at the BGMEA Complex saying that no new office building has been constructed yet on the land allotted to the association in Uttara.

BGMEA got a 5.5-bigha land in the Uttara third phase project in the capital at a low cost and the association paid the price on Thursday, said the president adding, ‘A consultant has been appointed to construct the new office and it will hopefully be done within a year.’

Mentioning themselves as respectful of the court verdict, Siddiqur said, ‘It’ll take another year to complete the construction of the new building. So, we’re seeking one more year from the court.’

The BGMEA is working for 3,200 factories and 44 lakh workers and all the official works are done in the BGMEA complex, said the president.

On December 8 last, the BGMEA authorities filed a petition urging the apex court to review its verdict.

On November 8 last, the SC released the full text of its verdict upholding the HC judgment that ordered the BGMEA to immediately demolish the building at its own cost.

On June 2 last, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, upheld the High Court order that had declared the BGMEA building illegal and asked the government to demolish it within 90 days.