The last-minute voter assembly campaign was held on Sunday, May 5th from three panels regarding the election of the executive committee of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), the top organization of the country’s information technology business sector, for the period of 2024-26. One team held a last-minute public rally with BASIS member voters at the Inter Continental Dhaka Rupashi Bangla Grand Ballroom on Minto Road in the capital. The party was led by outgoing president Russell T Ahmed under the slogan ‘Every Member Matters’ for the second term.
Apart from him, 10 other members of One Team were present at the event. The were- M Rashidul Hasan, Uttam Kumar Pal, AKM Ahmedul Islam Babu, Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan, M Asif Rahman, Didarul Alam Sani, KAM Rashedul Majid from General Category; Syed Abdullah Zayed from Associate category; Biplab Ghosh Rahul from affiliate category and candidate Syed Mohammad Kamal from international category.
The speech highlighted dozens of BASIS achievements over the past two years. Each member explained what they will do if they win to advance this achievement. And they promised to increase the members’ welfare activities by emphasizing the issue of achieving self-reliance in the country’s technology sector. They reminded about the challenges of the future in the changing global situation and the need to be united in this regard.
It was informed in the event that the members will not only come to the BASIS, but BASIS too will go to the members; With such conviction, the current Executive Council under the leadership of Russell T Ahmed organized ‘Members Meet’ program in at least 5 venues in Dhaka and Chittagong. There, the various problems, possibilities, demands of the members are discussed and the necessary steps are taken accordingly.
Addressing the voters present at the conference, Russell T. Ahmed said, considering the current context, this year’s BASIS election is very important. You all have to take responsibility in selecting the right and qualified candidates. On the one hand we have a combination of experience and youth. On the other hand, there are entrepreneurs doing business successfully in local and international markets. As is experience in policy advocacy, so is experience in stakeholder relations. Combined with all this, this year’s ONE TEAM is very balanced. So, if we are elected, our job is to make Bangladesh self-reliant in information technology.
Bangladesh Women in Technology (BWIT) Rezwana Khan and Women in Digital founder and managing director Asia Khaleda Neela, JCI President Imran Qadir, former president of Bangladesh Computer Association Shahidul Munir, BASIS vice president Abu Dawood Khan, former executive committee member Ashraf were present on this campaign stage. Abir, Riyad SA Hossain, Shah Imraul Qaish, Zahidul Haque and others were also present.