BASIS releases preliminary list of 26 candidates for 11 posts

The Election Board for the Executive Council Election 2026–2028 of the Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services (BASIS) has published the primary list of candidates. According to the updated schedule, the voting will take place on 26 September 2026. 

On Thursday, 27 August, the Ministry of Commerce released the primary candidate list. A total of 26 candidates have been listed to contest for 11 Director positions. Tania Islam, Deputy Secretary (Export-1) of the Ministry of Commerce, is serving as the Chairman of the Election Board. Nasrin Sultana, Deputy Secretary (Export-2), and Mohammad Jakir Hossain, Deputy Secretary (Export-3), are acting as board members.

According to the published primary list, the contesting candidates are:

• President (4 Candidates): Rafel Kabir (DNS Software Ltd.), Mustafa Rafiqul Islam (Flora Telecom Limited), Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan (Divine IT Limited), and AKM Ashraf Uddin (Decent Act International). 
• Sr. Vice President (3 Candidates): Saiful Islam Siddique (ICC Teleservices Limited), Noor Mahmud Khan (Right Brain Solution Ltd.), and Anisul Haq Bhuya (Tech Terrain IT Limited).
• Vice President - Admin (2 Candidates): Hasnain Md. Reyad (Smart Lab) and Md Musnad E Ahmed (SkyTech Solutions). 
• Vice President - Finance (3 Candidates): Tania Sultana (Synergy Interface Ltd.), Taufiqul Karim Suhrid (Fingertips Innovations Limited), and Tanjil Abedin (Trends Bird Limited).
• Director - General (10 Candidates): Md Jewel (Trust IT (BD) Ltd.), Sumch Mohammad Tarek (Bdtask Limited), Apel Mahmud Khan (BZM Graphics Limited), Md. Abdur Razzaque Rupom (OS CLICKS), Delwar Alam (BugsBD Limited), Arefeen Raafi Ahmed (Pulse Tech Ltd.), Abdullah Al Mamun (Primex Information Systems Limited), Ferdosh Alam (Atova Technology), Md Rashedul Islam (E-Medical Software Limited), and Md Fuad Hasan (Red Sparrow Limited).
• Director - Associate (3 Candidates): Syed Shofiul Alom (Be Data Solutions Limited), Md Jubayer Riyel (Sysmatrix Technologies Ltd), and Ahmed Armaan Siddiqui (Grameen Healthtech Limited).
• Director - Affiliate (1 Candidate): Sumaya Islam (Creato Design Research Lab Ltd.). 

Out of the 11 director positions, there are no candidates for the 'International Category'. Although BASIS has over 2,882 total members, the International category accounts for only 5 members, raising questions regarding the rationale of keeping this specific post. 

Nomination forms were collected and submitted between 14-20 August 2026 from Rooms 123 and 126 of Building 3 at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Earlier, on 14 March 2026, the 3rd preparatory meeting was held under the chairmanship of BASIS Administrator Abul Khair Mohammad Hafizullah Khan at the BASIS board room. Discussions covered memorandum updates, membership audits, voter lists, budgets, and administrative approvals. Mursheda Zaman, Chairman of the Election Appeal Board and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, along with Election Board members, attended that meeting.

However, since the tenure of the BASIS Administrator expired on 6 July, the trade body has been operating virtually without a head. Although a ministry team visited the BASIS office on 27 July, candidates were required to collect and submit nomination forms directly at the Ministry office.

Former BASIS leaders labeled this situation as uncomfortable. Former BASIS President A.K.M Fahim Mashroor commented, "Over the past one and a half years, the ministry has destroyed the association. As a result, members have lost interest in the election. Furthermore, I see no logical reason to keep a post dedicated to just 5 members."

The published primary candidate list remains subject to CIB reports, NBR clearance, and police clearance, with candidates liable to cancellation without prior notice if adverse remarks are found. 
//DBTech/SIS/NAP/EMS//