Membership Process
The Software and IT-enabled Services (ITES) industry of Bangladesh is emerging as one of the key contributors to the growth of Bangladesh Economy. The need for efficiency enhancement in the Government and Private sector is growing day to day, which can only be achieved through proper implementation of Software and IT-enabled services. The local IT/ITES companies have proved that they have the necessary capability to fulfill these demands of software and services.
Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services (BASIS), the leading national trade association for this sector, has been serving the interests of the Software and ITES industry of the country since its inception. The achievement of BASIS can be understood by the fact that the association started its journey with only 18 charter members in 1998, and recently, the membership count of BASIS has surpassed 2,400+. Today, BASIS member companies occupy a major share of the revenues generated by the Software and ITES industry. BASIS membership also covers a vast portion of small and medium companies that work with the association for guidance and continuous support. According to the latest Government Gazette circulated on 02 September 2020, membership of BASIS is mandatory for any software/ITES company for doing business in Bangladesh and to participate in any government/non-government procurement.
BASIS’s aims and objectives include the Trade Facilitation and business promotion in software and IT enabled services industry; encouraging the advancement of research; facilitation of education, employment, and growth of the Bangladesh economy. In line with these goals, BASIS works with the Government of Bangladesh to formulate policies and procedures in the software and ITES sector and offer a portfolio of services to the software & ITES community of Bangladesh.
BASIS has been working in close cooperation with the Bangladesh Government to create a Software and ITES industry-friendly environment. Improving telecom infrastructure, software industry-friendly tax regime, and prompt redress of procedural bottlenecks are signs of the work that BASIS has been undertaking with the government.
Apart from the policy advocacy advantages, the members get exclusive services from BASIS. These services include:
- Various trade, business operation and investment-related supports to members on the issues with Government agencies.
- Exclusive participation at events, as such, seminars, webinars, conferences, award giving ceremonies, business matchmaking sessions with the global and local partners, as well as training programs designed for BASIS members only.
- Discounted facility on the services fee of every event or program compared to the services provided to non-members.
- Moreover, BASIS is working to make its members including other Bangladeshi ICT firms to get preferential treatment in the Government projects.
- BASIS is providing cash incentive certificates to Software and ITES exporting companies, against which, the exporting companies may claim and receive 10% cash incentives to be provided by the government on the export value of the company.
Any firm or company thereof registered or incorporated in Bangladesh and conducting business in Software and IT Enabled Services is eligible to apply for membership provided:
- Its main activity is the development of Software and ITES;
- It performs this activity for commercial purposes
- Applicant Company requires submitting work order or business experience for General Membership.
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Associate Membership: Those who have operational experience from 0 months to 2 years. In case of a new company/start-up, less than 2 (two) years of age is encouraged to apply for Associate Category Membership.
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General Membership: Those who have operational experience of more than 2 years. The Company which has more than 4 (four) years of age with three work orders is encouraged to apply for General Category Membership. Organizations that have been established long ago, but have just started an IT business, will be able to apply for General Membership.
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Affiliate Membership: As per the SRO of NBR, the following nature of businesses are considered as ITES: (Information Technology Enabled Services): Digital Content
Development and Management, Animation (Both 2D and 3D), Geographic Information Services (GIS), IT Support and Software Maintenance Services, Website Hosting, Digital Data Analytics, Business Process Outsourcing, Data Entry, Data Processing, Call Centre, Digital Graphics Design and Computer-Aided Design, Search Engine Optimization, Web Document Conversion, Imaging Listing, and Archiving, Overseas Medical Transcription, Cyber Security Services, E-Procurement and E-Auction, Cloud Service, System Integration, e-learning platform, e-book publication, Mobile Application Development, IT Freelancing. Those who are dealing with business other than Software & ITES would be considered as Affiliate members.
The following business platforms and sections need to be clarified for this category. Only companies that deal with the following sections will fall into the category:
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4. International Membership: If a foreign company who is either itself listed in foreign stock exchange or its majority shareholder or its parent company is listed in foreign stock exchange, is eligible to be member of International Category of BASIS.
- Company A = Applicant Company
- Company B = Major shareholder of Company A
- Company C = Parent company of Company B who own 100% of Company B.
Note: Assuming the International member category applicant fulfills the criteria and definition of the International Category, the applicant needs to provide a recommendation letter or certificate by BIDA to prove the clearance to operate in Bangladesh.
To enroll as a Member (General, Associate, Affiliate, and International) of BASIS, the following process has to follow:
- Sign-up to the BASIS website.
- Fill-up the Application Form for Membership.
- Two references from member companies are mandatory.
Terms & Conditions of Referral process of the BASIS Membership Approval Process: The referee company will get an email with a unique approval link, which will be valid for 48 hours. If the referee company is not approving Applicant Company, they can be changing the referee company’s name after 48 hours. After approval of the reference, the applicant company will receive a confirmation email. If the applicant company wants to change the referee company’s name, they must email to service@basis.org.bd for changing the referee company name during session time (48 hours).
Important Note:
- One person can refer only once in a single membership form, whether he/she represents 1 or more companies.
- If the new member company’s owner/director/shareholder is the BASIS representative from a different company, he/she cannot refer to his/her own company.
- The Members of the BASIS Executive Council cannot give reference to any new Company.
4. Fees/Payment can be paid online through BASIS's designated payment channels.
5. Company Inspection.
Attach all the documents on the online form mentioned in the checklist:
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1 |
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2 |
Trade License
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3 |
Company eTIN Certificate
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4 |
TAX Certificate (More than 1 Year aged Companies) |
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5 |
BIN Certificate (not mandatory) |
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6 |
Certificate of Incorporation (Only For Limited Companies) |
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7 |
Memorandum & Articles of Association (Only For Limited Companies) |
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8 |
Partnership Deed (Only For Partnership Companies) |
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9 |
Company Profile (Area of business activity, list of HR, clients List etc.) must be in Company letterhead) |
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For Limited and Partnership Company, only C level executives, such as Director, Managing Director, CEO, CTO, CMO, CFO can be a BASIS representative. For Proprietorship, Proprietor or Owner must be the BASIS representative. Important document:
*** Must be on the company letterhead with original signature of all directors (for limited companies) and partners (for partnership companies) |
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11 |
Representative Details:
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All Papers must be attached with the online application form. After receiving the application form, the Membership Department of BASIS will check the documents and communicate with the applicant’s company for the official inspection. After the inspection, the application will be reviewed by the BASIS Membership Board Sub-committee. Then it will go to the BASIS Executive Council for final approval.
1. BASIS Executive Council has the right to accept or reject the membership application without any clarification.
2. BASIS Executive Council reserves the right to recommend any membership application to any destined category.
3. BASIS Membership procedure must comply with the DTO Rules and Memorandum of Articles of BASIS.
4. Organization/Company engaged only in Software and ITES is eligible to be a Member of BASIS.
5. Registered Address of the Organization/Company must be authentic. BASIS Authority preserves the right to investigate for such authentication.
6. BASIS authority preserves the right to ask for any document (including original) of the Applicant other than that mentioned above.
7. If required, BASIS may call the Representative of the Company in person for an interview.
8. No incomplete Application is acceptable.
9. Application fee is non-refundable
The current fee structure for BASIS membership are as follows (as per the respective clauses of BASIS MoA):
MEMBERSHIP FEES
Subject to the provision of Clause 9.2 membership fees of the members will be as follows:
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Category |
Admission Fee |
Annual Subscription |
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General Member |
BDT 20,000 |
BDT 10,000 |
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Associate Member |
BDT 10,000 |
BDT 5,000 |
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Affiliate Member |
BDT 15,000 |
BDT 7,500 |
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International Member |
$ 2,000 |
$ 800 |
Membership fees may be revised at any time at Annual General Meeting. The Membership Registration fee paid by the applicant company are not refundable.
Every member of the association will obtain its membership certificate after clearing the annual fee and completing (up to-90%) their company profile at the BASIS website (through their company profile). After that, they have to place a request for the membership certificate. Members will find the softcopy of the membership certificate on their member dashboard. After 3-5 working days, they can receive the hardcopy of the membership certificate from the BASIS Secretariat. Please note that you may pay all your fees or any service charges online through BASIS's designated payment channels.
Regarding Membership dues, the following clauses of the Articles of the Association will be applicable for all Members:
- Annual membership subscription is payable in advance for a calendar year in full and becomes due on the first of January of each year and is payable before the end of February of that year provided that the annual subscription of new members will be computed on a monthly pro-rata basis from the month of approval of membership by the Council.
- In cases where, in the opinion of the Council, unusual expenditure or commitments may become necessary in furtherance of the objectives or interests of the association or its Members, the Council shall be empowered to levy from the Members on the equitable basis such additional sum or sums..
- Any member in arrear for 6 (six) months in payment of his annual subscription and levies shall be disqualified from taking part in any proceeding of the Association.
The subscription/fees paid by the members of the association are not refundable on cessation of membership.