The election of the executive council of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh ISPAB for the period of 2024-2026 will be held on March 16 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center, Dhaka. Voting will continue from 10 am to 4 pm. Counting of votes will be done using digital technology.
From Wednesday, February 7, they have started distributing the nomination papers. However, till the writing of this report, no nomination paper has been reported to be sold. According to sources, the existing committee may stand as a new panel almost unchanged. On the contrary, there are possibilities of emerging new panels in the election. However, if the number of interested candidates less, many can stand in the election independently. Everyone is adopting a cautious and slow-moving policy. Associate members are trying to have the most influence in this year’s vote.
Even in the field of voting, there is still no sign of candidate competition in the election. Candidates for the 2021-2023 term election of the Executive Committee are also not in sight. However, this time the number of voters has increased by 249. At that time there were 206 voters from ordinary members and 551 from associate members.
As conveyed by the Election Secretariat sources, according to trade organization policy and Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh Company Rules, 250 voters from the general membership category and 756 voters from the associate membership category of the association will cast their votes in this election. Out of them, maximum 706 voters are in Upazila category and 50 voters are in district category.
That is, in this year’s vote, 250 voters will vote for 9 general category directors and 756 voters will elect 4 directors from associates. Then the 13 directors will distribute the posts among themselves on March 18.
Jatiya Sangsad Deputy Whip Md Nazrul Islam Babu is serving as the Chairman of the Board and JAN Associates Limited Managing Director Abdullah H Kafi and Excel Technologies Limited Director Birendranath Adhikari are serving as ex officio members. Similarly, as in the previous election, Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association president Md. Abdur Razzak and Samia Trading’s owner and FBCCI director Hafez Harun and National PVC Pipe Product owner Md. Abul Khair are serving as chairman of the election appeal board.
According to the election schedule, candidates can receive nomination papers till February 13. After this, the candidature submission and selection will be completed. And the candidature can be withdrawn till February 24. Voters will get their result on March 16 after campaigning till 15th.
According to the ISPAB website, the organization has 399 ordinary and 1604 associate members.