Government to Appoint Administrator for ISPAB Amid Election Uncertainty

Despite announcing a fresh election date, the crisis within the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) remains unresolved. Following similar interventions in three other major trade bodies in the country’s IT sector—Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS), e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB), and Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS)—the government is now set to appoint an administrator for ISPAB as well.

The Ministry of Commerce has scheduled a hearing on March 9 regarding the dissolution of the current executive committee and the appointment of an administrator. A letter was issued on March 4 from the Director General of the Department of Trade Organizations (DTO) to the current ISPAB president and office secretary, notifying them of the proceedings.

According to the hearing notice signed by Deputy Secretary Shukria Parvin, the session will be attended by the Director General of the WTO Cell, the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, and the FBCCI administrator. Additionally, key members of ISPAB’s executive committee, including President Imdadul Haque, Treasurer Md. Asaduzzaman, Director Fuad Mohammad Sharfuddin, and members Talha Ibne Alauddin and Md. Mizan, have been asked to be present.

Notably, on February 6, ISPAB had released the election schedule for the 2025-27 executive committee term. As per the schedule, the preliminary voter list was set to be published on March 24 at 4:00 PM. Candidates were expected to submit nomination papers by April 17, with the final candidate list to be announced on April 27 at 5:00 PM. The election was initially planned to take place on May 17.