Almas Kabir-led panel sweeps BASIS polls, voting for new president Monday

The panel led by Syed Almas Kabir has swept the election to the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services or BASIS.

The panel led by Kabir secured six of nine seats in the executive committee of BASIS for the 2018-2020 term, according to results announced by the Election Board Chairman SM Kamal on Saturday evening after the voting from 10am to 5pm.

The new members of the committee will elect their president and vice-president on Monday.

Flora Telecom Limited Managing Director Mustafa Rafiqul Islam Duke and Dohatec New Media Chairman Luna Shamsuddoha led the two other panels.

Kabir, the CEO of MetroNet Bangladesh Limited, has been working as the president of the top body of software entrepreneurs and IT service providers since Jan 10 when Mustafa Jabbar resigned after becoming the telecommunication and IT minister.

Jabbar had been elected president for the 2016-2019 term.

(Clockwise from top left) Syed Almas Kabir, Farhana A Rahman, Shoeb Ahmed Masud, Didarul Alam, AKM Fahim Mashroor, Mustafa Rafiqul Islam Duke, Luna Shamsuddoha, Tanzid Siddiq Spondon, Mushfiqur Rahman.

In Saturday’s election, Kabir bagged highest number of votes – 198.

Rafiqul and Luna also secured membership in the committee by winning 166 and 174 votes respectively.

Ajkerdeal.com’s AKM Fahim Masrhoor was elected associate member with 73 votes.

The five elected members of the BASIS executive committee from Kabir’s panel are Shoeb Ahmed Masud, Director, Business Automation Limited (181 votes); Didarul Alam, Managing Director, Shooting Star Limited (175 votes); Mushfiqur Rahman, Managing Partner, Spectrum Software and Consulting Limited (183 votes); Farhana A Rahman, Chairperson and CEO, UY Systems Limited (178 votes); and Tamzid Siddiq Spondon, Managing Director, Zanala Bangladesh Limited (180 votes).

A total of 26 candidates from the three panels fought in the election for eight posts of general members and five for the associate member’s post in the executive committee.

The election to the apex body of software entrepreneurs was delayed by five days because the commerce ministry put it on hold after receiving a complaint from a group of members.

On Mar 22, the commerce ministry issued an order halting the election for six months following a petition by Rokibul Mina of Modhumoti Tech and 10 others. The existing committee was asked to continue until that period.

The 10 others with Mina included Team Creative CEO Russell T Ahmed, Best Business Bond Limited Managing Director Uttam Kumar Paul, FM Tech Limited Managing Director MMG Faysal, Khaas Food Limited Chairman ANM Habibul Mustafa, and bVcreatives Managing Director and CEO Kowser Ahmed Khan.

Kabir earlier said the petition alleged BASIS had not submitted copies of its amended constitution to the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms and the commerce ministry. It also alleged BASIS did not change its official logo, Kabir said.     

Kabir said they later sought withdrawal of the stay order from Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Jabbar. The two ministers sat and resolved the issue later.