BASIS Voter List Controversy: 1,947 Member Companies Excluded Ahead of 2026 Election

A major controversy has emerged surrounding the upcoming 2026 election of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), after 1,947 member companies across four membership categories were excluded from the final voter list.

According to the published list, 580 members were placed in the “invalid” category, while 1,367 others were effectively kept in a “quarantine” status.

The exclusions affected a significant portion of BASIS members across all categories. Around 71 percent of associate members, 67.5 percent of affiliate members, and nearly 66 percent each of general and international members were dropped from the voter list.

Sources alleged that in several cases, members were called for appeal hearings, yet their applications were later rejected with remarks stating “Appeal Not Submitted.”

The large-scale exclusion has triggered widespread frustration, concern, and dissatisfaction among ICT industry members across the country.

The final voter list was published on the official BASIS website late Friday night, May 15. Multiple attempts were made to contact the chairman of the BASIS Election Board’s appeal division and Deputy Secretary Tania Islam for comments, but she did not respond. Questions sent via WhatsApp also went unanswered.

According to the official BASIS website, the organization currently has a total of 2,882 members. Among them are 1,857 general members, 665 associate members, 345 affiliate members, and 15 international members.

However, the final voter list includes only 626 general members, 192 associate members, 112 affiliate members, and just 5 international members.

This means 1,231 general members, 473 associate members, 233 affiliate members, and 10 international members were excluded from voting eligibility.

Several affected companies alleged that a large number of firms were deprived of voting rights through an unclear process and unreasonable decisions, raising serious concerns about the transparency and credibility of the election.

Industry entrepreneurs said the exclusions were particularly disappointing because many of the affected companies had regularly renewed their memberships, actively participated in BASIS activities, and maintained long-term engagement with the organization.

Many described the decision as “undemocratic” and “discriminatory.”

Representatives of several member companies claimed their names were removed without proper explanation or adequate verification. According to them, the move has damaged the participatory nature of the election and created doubts over the neutrality of the entire process.

Stakeholders in the ICT sector warned that such decisions could create mistrust and division within the industry. They also said the controversy surrounding the election of a professional trade body is harming the organization’s image.

Many within the sector have questioned the real motive behind the decision, expressing concerns that the voter list may have been manipulated to favor a particular group. However, the relevant authorities have yet to provide any detailed explanation regarding the matter.

In this situation, ICT entrepreneurs are demanding a transparent investigation, a logical explanation for the exclusions, and the restoration of voting rights for legitimate member companies.

DBTech/SA/EK/OR