The court handed down such a stay order Thursday following a case filed by Sheikh Jahangir Alam.

Now any AGM of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association to facilitate takeover by its new leadership is postponed so long the case is disposed of.

The court directive asked both the petitioner and defence to attend the hearing set for today.

However, the legal advisers and members of the BGMEA election commission said there is no problem in the newly elected executive body's taking over the charge on due date.

As per the amended version of Trade Organisation Ordinance 2002, (Section-4), they said, the new body can take over automatically on due date by operation of law, if the AGM is held, or not.

The Forum headed by Anwarul-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez of Evince Garments Ltd swept the February 25 election to the executive committee of BGMEA, bagging 24 out of 27 posts. And then, executive committee elected Anwarul-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez as the president for the next two years.

As per the procedure, the new committee is scheduled to take over charge on March 12, the last day in office by the existing body.

But, an uncertainty looms over installation of the new leadership because of the court order at a time when all set to receive them formally.

Talking to The Daily Star Barrister Jenefa K Jabbar, legal adviser to BGMEA, said, "AGM is no obstacle to the BGMEA new executive body's takeover, as it can do it by operation of law."

Referring to the amended version of Trade Organisations Ordinance 2002, she said there is no legal barrier to handing over the charge to the BGMEA newly elected body. Because, when the tenure of the existing body comes to a close, the new committee is treated that it has taken over charge automatically, she added.

Echoing the legal adviser, M Annisuzzaman, chairman of the election board of BGMEA, said there is no problem in handing over power to the elected executive body.

Terming AGM merely a formality, he said, "There is no relation between holding AGM and handover of the charge".

He said if anyone finds irregularities in the election procedure of an association or chamber body, he or she should address the issue to the arbitration committee of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry at first.

"We came through a legal and transparent procedure. So, there is no problem on our part to take over the charge," said Anwarul-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez, the upcoming president of the apex trade body for the apparels sector.

In the case filed with the 4th Assistant Judge Court, Dhaka by Sheikh Jahangir Alam of Shah Sufi Apparels and Textiles on February 22, it is alleged that a huge number of 'fake voters' have been enrolled for the BGMEA polls.