Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan Russell: There is one point I would like to make at the outset: this is a personal opinion, shaped by my own experiences and understanding of the ICT industry. Personally, I have never been involved with any political organization, nor have I ever been driven by any political ideology.
Throughout my school, college, and university years, politics was never a part of my journey. Instead, I dedicated my time to education, technology, and innovation. While building products, solving problems, and working with technology, I never felt that political engagement was necessary for me to contribute meaningfully to society or to the industry.
That said, I also recognize that everyone follows a different path. Many professionals successfully balance entrepreneurship with active participation in national politics, and I have great respect for those who can contribute effectively in both arenas. Their choices and capabilities deserve equal recognition.
I had the privilege of serving on the BASIS Board of Directors for approximately six months. During that time, my approach remained consistent with the principles I have always believed in. Whenever I felt that a proposal, policy, or decision would benefit the ICT industry and the members of BASIS, I supported it wholeheartedly. Likewise, whenever I believed a decision could negatively affect the industry or the interests of our members, I voiced my disagreement without hesitation.
Ultimately, it is the members of BASIS who will judge my performance as a director. However, one principle has always guided my decisions: individuals, groups, or personal affiliations have never been my priority. My commitment has always been to advancing Bangladesh’s technology sector and safeguarding the long-term interests of the ICT industry.
The Founding Vision of BASIS
Since its inception, I have always viewed BASIS as a non-partisan, professional, and entrepreneur-led organization. The visionary founders of this association established it with a clear objective to create a unified platform that would accelerate the growth of Bangladesh’s software and ICT industry, protect the interests of technology entrepreneurs, and build a sustainable ecosystem capable of competing on a global scale.
Over the years, BASIS has evolved into the country’s leading trade association representing software, IT services, and digital technology companies. Its identity has never been rooted in political affiliation. Instead, it has been built upon professionalism, innovation, entrepreneurship, and merit.
This distinction is important. A trade association exists to represent the collective interests of an industry not to advance political agendas. Its responsibility is to create opportunities for its members, advocate for policy reforms, strengthen industry capacity, encourage innovation, and help local companies expand into international markets.
The strength of BASIS has always come from the diversity of its members. Entrepreneurs with different backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives have come together under one platform because they share a common vision: building a stronger technology industry for Bangladesh.
That diversity is one of the organization’s greatest assets. It enables constructive debate, encourages better decision-making, and ensures that policies are shaped by industry needs rather than political considerations.
For this reason, I firmly believe that BASIS should continue to preserve its identity as an independent, non-partisan, and professionally governed organization. Its credibility has been built over decades, and maintaining that credibility is essential for earning the confidence of members, policymakers, development partners, and the international technology community.
The success of BASIS should always be measured by how effectively it serves its members and contributes to the growth of Bangladesh’s ICT sector not by political alignment or ideological preferences.
Working with Government Is Not Politics
As a trade association, maintaining a constructive and professional relationship with the government is not a political choice it is a practical necessity. Every industry association around the world works closely with government ministries, regulatory authorities, and policymakers because many of the issues affecting businesses can only be addressed through collaboration with public institutions. BASIS is no exception.
The software and ICT industry depends on supportive policies in areas such as taxation, cash incentives, export promotion, international payments, digital infrastructure, foreign investment, intellectual property protection, talent development, startup support, and regulatory reforms. Progress in these areas requires continuous engagement with the relevant ministries, government agencies, and policymakers.
For that reason, maintaining a positive working relationship with the government should never be interpreted as political alignment. Rather, it reflects the responsibility of an industry association to advocate for its members and create a more enabling business environment.
The government also benefits from such collaboration. Policymakers rely on industry feedback to understand market realities, identify policy gaps, and design initiatives that support sustainable economic growth. This constructive dialogue between the public and private sectors is a hallmark of mature economies around the world.
Regardless of which political party is in power, the responsibility of BASIS should remain unchanged to work professionally with the government of the day in order to protect the interests of its members and strengthen Bangladesh’s ICT industry.
Professional engagement with the government is therefore not about politics; it is about responsibility, representation, and achieving meaningful outcomes for the industry.
The Responsibilities of the BASIS Board of Directors
The role of a BASIS Director extends far beyond attending Board meetings or participating in organizational discussions. Serving on the Board is a commitment to representing the collective interests of thousands of member companies and contributing to the long-term development of Bangladesh’s technology sector.
A responsible Board must ensure that members receive effective services, while also participating actively in policy formulation and advocacy on issues that directly affect the industry. Directors are expected to identify emerging challenges, recommend practical solutions, and work collaboratively with stakeholders to improve the overall business environment.
Their responsibilities include advocating for tax reforms, export incentives, smoother international payment mechanisms, regulatory improvements, and policies that encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Board also plays an important role in creating opportunities for members by facilitating participation in international trade fairs, technology exhibitions, investment forums, business delegations, and trade missions. These initiatives help Bangladeshi technology companies explore new markets, establish global partnerships, and enhance their international competitiveness.
Equally important is strengthening the capabilities of member companies through knowledge-sharing initiatives, professional training, capacity-building programs, certification opportunities, and collaboration with international organizations.
Today’s technology industry operates in a highly interconnected global environment. Therefore, building relationships with international development agencies, foreign trade bodies, technology associations, investors, and strategic partners is no longer optional it is essential.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of the Board should not be measured by the number of meetings it holds, but by the tangible value it creates for members and the long-term progress it delivers for the industry.
The Real Strength of BASIS
Today, BASIS represents nearly 3,000 member companies, comprising one of the largest and most influential technology business communities in Bangladesh. These companies are led by approximately 10,000 entrepreneurs and employ more than 300,000 highly skilled professionals who contribute every day to the country’s digital transformation through software development, IT services, business process outsourcing, digital solutions, and technological innovation.
Collectively, they are creating employment, generating export earnings, attracting investment, and strengthening Bangladesh’s position in the global digital economy. This community is fundamentally driven by technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. As a result, its expectations from leadership are naturally different from those of a political organization.
When members elect their representatives, they are more likely to evaluate candidates based on competence, integrity, vision, experience, professionalism, and the ability to deliver measurable results. Political identity, in comparison, should remain secondary to the qualities that genuinely matter for effective organizational leadership.
The strength of BASIS has never depended on political affiliation. It has always depended on the quality of its entrepreneurs, the innovation of its member companies, and the trust that members place in their elected leadership.
That trust is one of the organization’s most valuable assets, and preserving it should remain a shared responsibility.
Leadership Is About Responsibility, Not Personal Gain
Since its establishment in 1998, more than fifty distinguished individuals have served on the BASIS Board of Directors. My personal belief is that the overwhelming majority accepted this responsibility not for personal recognition or individual benefit, but because they genuinely wanted to contribute to the growth of the industry, strengthen the organization, and serve fellow entrepreneurs.
Every Board has faced different challenges. Every Director has brought different experiences and perspectives. While opinions may have differed, the common objective has always been the advancement of Bangladesh’s ICT sector. I have always viewed the position of a Director in the same way.
For me, it is not a title, a status symbol, or a platform for personal visibility. It is a responsibility entrusted by the members one that carries accountability, transparency, and a commitment to serve.
Leadership within BASIS should never be measured by personal influence or individual ambition. It should be measured by the ability to listen, build consensus, solve problems, and create lasting value for the industry.
At the end of the day, every Director is accountable to the members who place their trust in them. That trust should always be respected through professionalism, integrity, and dedicated service.
Lessons from the Past Two Years
The experience of the past two years has offered valuable lessons for all of us. It has demonstrated how challenging it is to manage a member-driven trade association for an extended period through an Administrator and various support committees, rather than through a democratically elected Board of Directors.
I have no doubt that those who served on the support committees experienced these realities firsthand. Their contributions deserve appreciation, particularly for ensuring the continuity of the organization’s activities during an exceptional period.
At the same time, this experience also highlighted the structural limitations of such an arrangement. Many strategic decisions require the legitimacy and mandate that only an elected Board can provide.
Long-term policy initiatives, governance reforms, institutional commitments, and member-driven strategic priorities often depend on the authority that comes directly from the collective will of the membership.
Without that democratic mandate, certain initiatives inevitably move more slowly, while others become difficult to pursue altogether.
This is not a reflection on the competence or dedication of any individual serving in an administrative or advisory capacity. Rather, it is a recognition of an institutional reality: a member-based organization functions most effectively when its leadership derives its authority directly from the members themselves.
The experience of the past two years has therefore reinforced an important principle an organization like BASIS can realize its full potential only when it is led by a Board elected by its members.
Why an Elected Board Matters
The strength of any democratic institution lies in the legitimacy of its leadership. BASIS is not merely an organization; it is the collective voice of Bangladesh’s software and ICT industry. Its credibility, influence, and effectiveness depend on the confidence that members place in those who represent them.
An elected Board provides something that no alternative governance arrangement can fully replace: accountability. Directors elected by the members are directly answerable to those members. Their performance is continuously evaluated not only by their peers but also by the entrepreneurs and companies they represent. Every decision they make ultimately reflects on the trust that members have placed in them.
This accountability naturally encourages greater transparency, stronger engagement with members, better decision-making, and a sharper focus on long-term institutional interests. Equally important, elections create opportunities for new leadership to emerge.
Every election allows members to compare ideas, evaluate leadership qualities, assess track records, and choose the team they believe is best equipped to lead the organization into the future.
Healthy competition among qualified candidates is not a weakness of an organization it is one of its greatest strengths. It encourages innovation, promotes better governance, and ensures that leadership remains responsive to the evolving needs of the industry.
For an organization built on entrepreneurship and innovation, democratic leadership is not simply a governance mechanism; it is a reflection of the values the organization represents.
Election Is the Way Forward
The responsibility of a government-appointed Administrator is not to lead a trade association indefinitely. The Administrator’s role is to preserve institutional continuity, ensure organizational stability, and facilitate a free, fair, transparent, and credible election through which leadership can be returned to the elected representatives of the membership.
I believe those who have served on various support committees during this period also understand this reality. Their valuable experience has undoubtedly demonstrated that, despite everyone’s best intentions, an appointed structure cannot fully replace a Board elected by the members.
Ultimately, the future direction of BASIS should be determined by its members, not by appointments. For those who believe they have the vision, experience, integrity, and commitment to serve the industry, I encourage them to participate in the election. Present your ideas. Share your vision. Offer your plans for strengthening the organization and advancing the ICT industry. Allow the members to evaluate your leadership.
If the members believe you are the right person to lead, they will express that confidence through their votes. That is how democratic institutions grow stronger.
A Stronger BASIS for a Stronger Bangladesh
Above all, BASIS belongs to all of us. As in any vibrant democratic institution, there will always be differences of opinion. There will be debates, competing ideas, and healthy contests for leadership. These should not be viewed as divisions; rather, they are signs of an engaged, dynamic, and mature organization.
What matters most is that, despite our different perspectives, we remain united by a common purpose. That purpose is to strengthen Bangladesh’s software and ICT industry, empower technology entrepreneurs, create new opportunities for innovation, expand our presence in global markets, and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economic development.
I firmly believe that an independent, non-partisan, professionally governed, and member-driven BASIS led by a Board elected through the votes of its members provides the strongest foundation for achieving these goals.
The values upon which BASIS was built professionalism, meritocracy, inclusiveness, and democratic governance have earned the organization credibility over nearly three decades. Preserving these values is not the responsibility of any single Board or individual; it is a shared responsibility of every member.
Institutions become stronger when their traditions are respected, their governance is trusted, and their leadership is chosen through a transparent democratic process. As we look ahead, my hope is that BASIS will continue to uphold these principles, remain above partisan interests, and serve as a united platform dedicated solely to the advancement of Bangladesh’s technology industry.
Because when BASIS grows stronger, the ICT industry grows stronger. And when the ICT industry grows stronger, Bangladesh moves forward.
Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan Russell, Founder & CEO, Divine IT Limited
