BASIS in Balance: Court Halts Administrator Appointment Amid Leadership Crisis
The future of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) has entered a legal limbo following months of unrest, resignations, restructuring, and administrative uncertainty. The once vibrant ICT industry trade body is now the subject of a judicial review concerning its leadership structure.
The Supreme Court's Chamber Judge, Justice Rezaul Haque, issued a stay order on May 14, prohibiting the appointment of a new administrator to BASIS. This decision follows a legal petition filed by BASIS member Taufiqul Karim Suhrid, who believes a clear directive may be issued within this or next week. According to Suhrid, the case has been listed as item 36 at the Supreme Court's Chamber Judge bench filed by lawyer AKM Nurul Alam.
Suhrid informed DigiBangla on Sunday that the original High Court order on December 15 last year—issued by Justices Farah Mahbub and Debashish Roy Chowdhury—had already suspended all administrative activities in BASIS. Although that writ was discharged in March, a renewed petition was filed on May 11 in the Chamber Court, leading to the current stay order.
He emphasized, “BASIS does not belong to any individual or leader. What’s happening now is certainly not beneficial to the general membership. I filed the writ to help resolve this crisis. We respectfully accept the court’s latest directive and now await further hearings.”
When asked about possible outcomes, Suhrid said, “If the court decides there should be no administrator, it will also provide a directive on how BASIS will be governed in the future. It might even reinstate the previous executive committee. Ultimately, this is up to the court’s discretion. However, commercial associations are best run by elected representatives of the business community.”
Following the popular uprising in December last year, the government appointed Bangladesh Computer Council Executive Director Muhammad Mehedi Hasan as BASIS administrator on December 4. A support committee led by Rafel Kabir was also formed to manage daily operations. However, Kabir resigned from the committee on April 30, and the support committee was officially dissolved on May 1. Subsequently, Mehedi Hasan resigned from the administrator post on May 4.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Rehan Uddin, Joint Secretary and Acting Director General of the Trade Organization Division under the Ministry of Commerce, told the media on Sunday that a proposal to appoint a new administrator to BASIS had already been submitted for approval. He stated, “Once approved, it will be finalized very soon. Only then will it be clear whether a new administrator will lead BASIS or elected representatives will resume control.”
However, due to legal obstacles, the DTO cannot appoint the Administrator untill the verdict is reached.
