Mohammad Ali Khokon on Sunday resigned from his position as president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association and former vice-president Showkat Aziz Russell took over the role following an emergency board meeting.

The BTMA board of directors accepted Khokon’s resignation during a meeting held at its Gulshan office in the city, according to BTMA director Abdullah Al Mamun.

Russell was appointed to the board in place of director Ahnaf Aziz, who also resigned on the same day.

Khokon had served as the BTMA president for seven years, beginning his first term in 2018.

Following the fall of the Awami League government amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5, BTMA members began asking Khokon to step down due to his close ties with the ousted government, according to one of the members of the trade body.

BTMA sources said that Khokon had not been seen publicly since Sheikh Hasina left office following the student movement.

Meanwhile, Khokon in his resignation letter said, ‘After much consideration and reflection I have decided to resign from my position as president of BTMA effectively’.

Khokon did not attend the meeting.

In an immediate reaction, the newly elected BTMA president Russell congratulated the new interim government and expressed condolences to the brave students who sacrificed their lives in the recent events.

He also expressed gratitude to the government for their decision to import fertiliser and supply gas to industries.

Russell, also the managing director of Amber Denim Mills Limited, said that the previous government had raised gas prices without prior notices and withdrew cash incentives, putting the industry at a disadvantage.