BASIS in a Bind: Bangladesh’s Top IT Body Faces Leadership Lull
While ISPAB and e-CAB remain active in their election activities, the country's most powerful trade organization in the ICT sector—the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS)—appears to be drifting in administrative uncertainty.
On May 1, BASIS Secretary Hashim Ahmed officially ended his 17-year tenure with the organization, having resigned a month earlier. Meanwhile, on April 30, Rafel Kabir stepped down as Chairman of the BASIS Associate Committee, which is currently operating under an administrator. Although the acting administrator—an Additional Secretary from the ICT Division—cited personal reasons for Kabir’s resignation, observers believe the real reason lies in the uncertainty surrounding the stalled BASIS elections.
Following Kabir's resignation, questions have arisen regarding the future of the Associate committee. When approached online for clarification, the administrator provided no response, nor did he answer calls.
It may be noted that on December 6 of last year, Administrator Dr. Muhammed Mehedi Hassan officially took charge of BASIS with the responsibility of organizing a fair and neutral election within 120 days and handing over leadership to an elected executive committee. Subsequently, on December 8, a 11-member Associate committee was formed to assist the administrator. Rafel Kabir was appointed Chairman, with Syed Mamun Kader and Md. Mizanur Rahman serving as Co-Chairmen. According to the organization’s rules, the committee's tenure was supposed to end by April 4—120 days after its formation.
Nevertheless, on April 16, the Ministry of Commerce formed both an Election Board and an Appellate Board for the BASIS Executive Council election for the 2025–27 term. The Election Board is chaired by Joint Secretary Sufia Akter, with Deputy Secretary Sandwip Kumar Sarker and Assistant Trade Advisor (Deputy Registrar) Sirajul Islam as members. The Appellate Board is chaired by Joint Secretary Shayla Yasmin, with Deputy Secretaries Majedul Islam and Rezaul Karim as members.
Previously, in an official order signed by Additional Secretary and Director General of the Trade Organization Division Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, the rationale for appointing an administrator was clarified. The order stated that BASIS is a registered trade organization licensed by the Ministry of Commerce. On October 17, BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed and on October 19, Vice President (Finance) Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan reportedly resigned for personal reasons. However, their resignation letters were not sent to the Director General of Trade Organizations. A reconstituted board of directors was later formed, but procedural flaws marred the process.
Subsequently, on November 18, a hearing was held based on complaints submitted by the Anti-Discrimination ICT Entrepreneurs’ Council, the Anti-Discrimination Engineers’ Forum, and representatives of general members. The former BASIS President did not attend the hearing, and the reconstituted board failed to provide satisfactory explanations.
Given the ongoing instability and dissatisfaction in the ICT sector, which has reportedly been affecting the country’s economy, the BASIS board was deemed ineffective. Accordingly, the reconstituted board was dissolved, and an administrator was appointed under Section 17 of the Trade Organizations Act, 2022, with government approval.
