BASIS Ballot Battle: Allegations of Voter Manipulation Spark Tension
Tensions have intensified surrounding the election of the country’s leading ICT industry body, the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). Allegations of voter list manipulation, political influence, and irregularities in the election process led to a heated situation at the BASIS office on Thursday, May 21.
The situation became increasingly tense after a group message stating, “Where are the street boys trying to capture BASIS?” spread across social media platforms.
On-site observations showed that reformist members, led by Mohammad Jewel, Office Secretary of the Nationalist ICT Forum, along with several members of the dissolved auxiliary committee, raised allegations of irregularities in the election process.
They alleged that an attempt was being made to hand over the election uncontested by strategically turning “associates of fascists” into voters. In front of BASIS secretariat members, they questioned how a large number of voters were added overnight, why reformists were being referred to as “street boys” in posts, why there was so much drama surrounding the acceptance of applications, and why no member of the election commission was present there.
Witnesses said the situation deteriorated further when the individual accused of making the provocative post arrived after 4:00 pm within the extended deadline period to submit nomination forms.
To control the situation, an eight-member police team led by Hiron Molya, Officer-in-Charge of the Kawran Bazar Police Outpost, had already been deployed at the venue. Police later brought the situation under control.
According to the election schedule, Thursday at 4:00 pm was the final deadline for selling and submitting nomination papers. However, allegations emerged that no member of the election commission was present at the BASIS secretariat throughout the entire process of selling and receiving applications.
Concerned individuals claimed that despite repeated phone calls and text messages, Election Commission Chairman Tania Islam did not respond. The secretariat later stated that DTO would announce the final number of candidates who purchased and submitted forms.
Earlier, strong dissatisfaction had already emerged among general members and technology entrepreneurs over a sudden increase in voter numbers in the final voter list. According to allegations, although initially 725 people had applied, the final voter count rose to 935.
Aggrieved entrepreneurs said the election board has yet to clarify who the additional voters are, how they were added, and through what process. They alleged that this may not merely be an administrative error but rather a well-planned attempt to control the entire election process.
There are also allegations that a particular group is attempting to influence the election results by securing separate votes through multiple companies under the same ownership. Concerns have arisen that this could damage the democratic environment and transparency of the organization.
General members had long been demanding a full financial audit, membership verification, and re-evaluation of the voter list ahead of the election. However, dissatisfaction among members has grown after those demands were ignored and efforts were made to organize the election quickly.
The aggrieved members have demanded re-verification of the controversial voter list, a full membership and financial audit, and the arrangement of a neutral election. Otherwise, they warned of launching a broader movement and pursuing legal action.
DBTech/SH/MUM/OR
