Tv24 Desk: M Rashidul Hasan has become the new president and Mostafizur Rahman Sohel, senior vice president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). This development follows the resignations of former President Russell T. Ahmed and Vice President (Finance) Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan, creating vacancies in both positions. In an urgent executive committee meeting held on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, the BASIS Executive Committee (2024-26) voted to elevate Senior Vice President M Rashidul Hasan to President, Director Md. Mostafizur Rahman Sohel to Senior Vice President, and Director M Asif Rahman to Vice President (Finance).
In its 332nd meeting, the committee members collectively decided to proceed without co-opting any external members, intending to manage all functions directly by the elected Executive Committee members.
Earlier on October 20, 2024, BASIS had initiated an automated voting process among members to gauge opinions on two key propositions: 1) whether to undertake necessary reforms to the constitution and subsequently hold mid-term elections, or 2) whether the entire Executive Committee should resign. Out of 594 participating members, 77.27% voted in favor of completing reforms in collaboration with members and subsequently organizing elections, while 22.72% supported an immediate resignation by the current Executive Committee.
Based on members’ feedback, the BASIS Executive Committee has committed to prioritizing key reforms while continuing its regular activities and safeguarding members’ interests. The committee plans to complete the constitutional amendments, membership audits, and urgent structural reforms by January 2025 and hold elections by April 2025. The tentative roadmap was outlined with a goal to conduct an AGM/EGM in January, followed by elections in April.
The BASIS leadership has called upon all members and stakeholders to extend their support to the current Executive Committee in executing these reforms effectively, enhancing BASIS’s reputation nationally and internationally for the growth of Bangladesh’s software and IT service sector.
About the President:
M Rashidul Hasan is a pioneering figure in Bangladesh’s IT sector with over three decades of experience. He founded Systech Digital Limited in 2001, where he currently serves as CEO, alongside developing Systech Digital Japan Inc. and Systech Digital UK Limited. Having contributed to the industry for over 20 years, he has held various roles within BASIS, including Joint Secretary General, Vice President, and Senior Vice President. He has successfully organized initiatives like the BASIS National ICT Awards, BASIS SoftExpo, APICTA Awards Dhaka, Digital World Conference, and Developer Conference. M Rashidul Hasan has also been instrumental in introducing export incentives and tax exemptions for the IT industry and is currently focused on advancing technologies like AI, blockchain, IoT, and cloud computing to empower over 2,600 IT firms in Bangladesh.
About the Senior Vice President:
Mostafizur Rahman Sohel is a respected ICT entrepreneur in Bangladesh with over two decades of experience in technology, economics, and management. He has been pivotal in the development and commercialization of products such as DreamApps ERP, ERM Anywhere, and ERP in a Box. As the lead private sector voice for Bangladesh’s Digital Commerce Policy, he has previously served BASIS as Joint Secretary General (2014-16) and Director (2016-18, 2022-23). He has also been a National President of JCI Bangladesh and a distinguished Senator of JCI International, as well as the founding President of Dhaka Radiant Rotary Club.
