Members buzzed in the last camping of Team Smart
The last-minute voter assembly campaign was held on Sunday from three panels on the verge of election of the Executive Committee of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) for the period of 2024-26. 'BASIS Members' Grand Meet-up' was held on behalf of Team Smart on the occasion of BASIS election at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in the capital on Sunday, May 5 at night. There was no room left in the event. Many participated in the campaign by standing outside the venue.
Talking to the organizers, it was known that it was not possible to make seating arrangement for everyone since double the number of invitees rushed to the venue. However, they were duly entertained.
The program started at 7 pm and ended at 12 midnight. There was a festive mood throughout the Radisson Hotel on the occasion of Team Smart's BASIS Members Grand Meet-up. The Radisson premises was buzzing with BASIS members walking in before the scheduled time.
The event started with recitation from holy Quran. Then the national anthem was played. The venue turned festive with a mesmerizing laser show followed by a back-to-back rendition of Team Smart's theme song.
Team Leader Mostafizur Rahman Sohail delivered the opening speech on behalf of Team Smart. He said, during the election campaign in the last few days, one phrase is always running in my mind. That is - 'no' means 'no'. The BASIS we are looking at now is not the BASIS we know. The BASIS about which so much is said about the audit report is not our BASIS. ‘No’, to the BASIS, which vilifies the former president. We want a BASIS where every member is treated equally. We want a BASIS that is business friendly.
Mostafizur Rahman Sohail urged to be in favor of Team Smart and said that only 58 people have been elected to the EC committee in 27 years out of 2400 members. That is, we could not give a chance to the new leadership. We are talking about frequent changes. We humbly request everyone to start the change we are talking about with our own thoughts. Our Smart Team is a young team. Let’s give this young team a chance. In order to fulfill our vision, above all to give everyone the opportunity to do business, you will give Team Smart a chance to build a business-friendly smart BASIS - this is our request to everyone.
Mahbub Zaman, former president of BASIS, said, I was not called by Team Smart, I went to them. You know what consequences I had to face because of that. I couldn't imagine that no one could be supported in our organization. You know how much I have to suffer for writing this truth. Convert the votes you've seen in the last few days. I'm all for Team Smart, so are you.
Syed Almas Kabir, another former president of BASIS, said that the objective of BASIS should be remembered. This is not a club. There are 2 thousand 400 members. BASIS should look at how they can grow the business. Our real objective is to increase the scope of work or business in IT sector. Team Smart is a really smart team. If all 11 of Team Smart is elected, I will be very happy. He also said that the new leaders of BASIS should take initiative to increase tax holiday. The main work is advocacy and policy. If the ICT industry can take even a fraction of the mega project, then it will be seen that 200 to 300 companies will become big.
Farhana A Rahman, former senior vice president of BASIS, said, I have been a member of BASIS for 18 years. Whether on board or not, I have contributed to BASIS. Unfortunately, I didn't go to BASIS for the last two and a half years. Why didn’t I go? Previous speakers have said that. As a member of BASIS, I have been suffering from not being able to go to BASIS for the past two and a half years. They will do what Team Smart has promised. They are young team. Talking to them reduces age. Each member of the Smart Team is qualified in their respective areas. We expect full support for Team Smart.
Rashad Kabir, Director of the current board of BASIS, said that we do not want any member of BASIS to be attacked for any reason. Both have had their memberships revoked simply because of personal outrage. We don't want personal outrage. The current meeting on tax holiday was supposed to be held two years ago. What is the work of our EC to do then? Attending talk shows and events? We don't want them. Request everyone to support Team Smart. For the past several years we have not traditionally polled the full panel. This practice should come out. Asking Team Smart to rule on the full panel.
Liaqat Hossain, CEO candidate of Babylon Resources Limited, candidate for the post of Director in general category from Team Smart, said, "We are sorry on behalf of Team Smart for the incident that happened with Mahbub Zaman Bhai (former president of BASIS). None of the 10 promises made by those who were in charge in the last term were implemented. We will implement the promises we make. If elected I will try to start a permanent building and welfare fund of BASIS.
ASM Rafiq Ullah (SANA), co-founder and CEO of Content Matters Limited, another candidate for Director post in general category, said BASIS is the most talented organization. Awareness is needed for this organization to be involved with everyone. We're bringing content to everyone through Content Matters. This content is missing in BASIS. If we get the chance, BASIS can involve everyone from the government. We will stand tall. We want to stand tall in the local market and international market.
Rafiq Ullah (SANA) also said that in our experience there were two important elections - the election of Barack Obama and the election of the 2008 Charter of Change. We have again called for change in the BASIS elections. We are not on base with those who don't like encouraging juniors or seniors. We want to move forward equally with everyone. While we have done so much before the election for Team Smart, we want to make it clear that we will not leave you after the election. Even if we do not win the election, we will not leave you. I have that belief, Team Smart has that belief, the rest is up to you.
Niaz Morshed Elite, co-founder and executive of Nagad Limited, another candidate for Director post in the general category, said that everyone in this team has capability. A mindset to contribute is required. Forget friendships for two years and make friends with Team Smart. Give us a chance for two years. If we can't perform as promised, I promise, we won't come back to you.
Elit also said, the big problem for new startups or entrepreneurs here is capital. They don't even get loans from banks. Nagad Digital Bank is launching in July. We are keeping a fund of Tk 5000 crore here for these entrepreneurs. Out of this, a budget of Tk 100 crore in the IT sector will be given to BASIS members, from which BASIS members will get collateral-free loans.
Affiliate director candidate Lutfi Haider Chowdhury, co-founder and chief executive officer of Adfinix Limited, said that as many new members will come, as many new technologies will come, everyone is an affiliate member of BASIS. Now business is being conducted with traditional policies. If Facebook marketing stops, three and a half lakh people will be unemployed. Facebook not only sends money outside the country, remittances from abroad are also coming through Facebook. So, domain specific policy is required for this. We will make those domain specific policies if elected.
Hasinul Quddus (Rousseau), Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Daraz Bangladesh, candidate for the post of international director, said, “Our team Smart is a very good team. We will change the whole BASIS and bring it to a roadmap. Give us that chance.”
Under the leadership of Advanced ERP BD Limited Managing Director Mostafizur Rahman Sohail, Content Matters Limited co-founder and CEO ASM Rafiq Ullah (SANA), Nagad Limited co-founder and executive director Niaz Morshed Elite, Babylon Resources Limited CEO Liaquat are vying for the director post in the general category from Team Smart Panel. Hossain, Co-Founder and CEO of Inument Solutions Limited Manjurul Al Mamun, Chief Operating Officer of Loosely Coupled Technologies (LCT Solution Center) Syeda Naushad Jahan Promi, The Man of Steel (Chairman) of Analyze Bangladesh Limited and Director and CEO of Kranti Associates Limited Dr. Muhammad Risalat Siddique and Mir Shahrukh Islam, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bondstein Technologies Limited. From this panel, Associate Director candidate Magnus Software Works Chief Executive Officer Arman Ahmed Khan, Affiliate Director candidate Adfinix Limited Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Lutfi Haider Chowdhury and International Director candidate Daraz Bangladesh Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Hasinul Quddus (Rusho).
Other candidates for the post of director of Team Smart Panel also spoke at the event. Each and every one spoke about their dreams and promises based on their own position. Besides, representatives of other member institutions of BASIS also spoke. They voiced support for Team Smart as well as calling for a Team Smart vote on the full panel.
Bangladeshi team of 5 teenagers 'Not a Boring Team' won first place in South Asia and fifth place worldwide in NASA Conrad Challenge. But their progress was hindered by the resources of money. For just taka two lakh, their journey to NASA was about to stop. Eventually Team Smart stood up by them. Twa-Seen Elahi, the leader of that team, was present at the event. Ahmed Mushfika Nazneen, the journalist of Ekushey Television, who brought the team of TV-cines in touch with Team Smart, was also present at the event. They said that Team Smart has set a unique precedent by standing by this team. They expressed the hope that they will be with such young people in the future as well.
In this year's BASIS election, 33 candidates are contesting for three panels in 11 general category management positions. Voting for BASIS election will continue from 10 am to 5 pm on May 8 at Gulshan Shooting Club in the capital. The total number of voters in this election is one thousand 464. Among them, there are 932 voters in the general category, 389 voters in the associate category, 134 voters in the affiliate category and 9 voters in the international category.
