Publicly Open Letter: Further concern to our previous one regarding Participatory Election of Trustees/ Directors under a credible ‘Interim Management Body’ at ‘THE BANGLADESH CENTRE LONDON”

Posted by Ameenur Rasheed on May 12, 2016.

Bangladesh Centre Improvement Forum (BCIF)
বাংলাদেশ সেন্টার ইম্প্রুভমেন্ট ফোরাম(বিসিআইএফ)
[BCIF is community led advocacy group working to enhance the good governance of particularly, but not limited to, The Bangladesh Centre]
157 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS
m: +447939847723, +447810564144, e: centre.bangladesh@yahoo.com

11/05/2016

Publicly Open Letter

Re: Further concern to our previous one regarding Participatory Election of Trustees/ Directors under a credible ‘Interim Management Body’

Attention: Mr Mustafizur Rahman, e: smrahman58@hotmail.com

To:
The Trustees/ Managers/ Occupiers
at
The Bangladesh Centre
24 Pembridge Gardens, London W2 4DX
t: +442072299404
f: +442072295197
e: bangladeshcentre@hotmail.co.uk, hc@bhclondon.org.uk, dhc@bhclondon.org.uk, bhclondon@btconnect.com

Dear Sirs,

Further to our previous concern that we have raised by an email on 07/5/2016 we state again that the current administration of the organisation are heedless to our recurrent approaches.

We reiterate again that as part of the promotion of The Bangladesh Centre London and particularly to promote the mass participation of the community members in the trustee recruitment process we have duly submitted 70 membership applications by hand on 8 April 2016. We have not heard the outcome ever since until 6 May 2017 whereas the submission of the nominations supposedly should begin 9 May 2016 ending on 13 May 2016 during only 5 weekdays. It is understood that only 5 weekdays are given to collect the nomination form and eligible voter list, to conduct the consultation for finalisation of nomination in about 14-28 (the figures has not confirmed by the management) positions.

We note that very heedlessly to all claims the current administration is proceeding with an invalid election process. Our lead convenor veteran community activist Mr M A Matin has visited the Bangladesh Centre and naturally he has able to meet Mr Mustafizur Rahman at the office. He enquired Mr Rahamn if eligible voters/ members list has been finalised. Mr Rahman responded that it has not been yet. However Mr Rahman told Mr Matin that the nomination forms are being issued and subsequently he handed one to him. It is to be noted that he has not given any terms for the participation. He has not given him any announcement that who is the election commissioners and contact details for this purpose although it cites that “ Election commissioners will present”.

We re-iterate that the current management has failed to deliver a participatory and transparent process. It appears that a close circle of cronies hold the grip of the organisation for decades in a very secretive and cunning manner to continue their malpractice of administration. Hence we observe that the current management has lost the confidence of community members, the society at large and thereby credibility to govern the organisation any longer.

We re-iterate that for the purpose of a fair, transparent and participatory trustee recruitment process to take place we ask that an ‘Interim Management Body’ be immediately formed through consultation of the stakeholders in the community and subsequently the ‘Interim Management Committee’ to take over the management to aid the election process for the interim period. The remit of the proposed ‘Interim Management Committee’ shall be limited to conducting the routine administration of the organisation and it will not take any policy decision therein.

We re-iterate that we point out that the current management gravely lacked in delivering the following:
1. Publication of eligible voters’ list
2. Issuing of nomination forms and any terms if any
3. Allowance of sufficient time for the consultation among in order for the finalisation of the potential nomination to the number of positions that deemed vacant.

We also note that the current administration tends to not respond to requests that we have been notifying such as these.

1. We asked them to give us an electronic membership form preferably one in Word format and/or PDF. Its officer Mr Mustafizur Rahman responded that he is unable to do so. He gave us the reason that he does not such as this and the management does not have a provision for such facility in place although I Ameenur Rasheed pointed out that they could easily get one from their printer that supplied them one print bulletin including the membership form thereon. I am not sure how Mr Rahman processed the request.
2. I, Ameenur Rasheed, also asked Mr Mustafizur Rahman to give the organisation’s bank account details for any potential donation to be made and general purposes. I have not heard ever since.

We re-iterate that we note that the key persons that are effectively in control and administration of the organisation are in breach of good practice and morals of such a community oriented organisation as the Bangladesh Centre, regarded as legendary organisation of the British Bangladeshi community

Hence we ask it to immediately take step internally through consultation with stakeholders and well wishers in an expedited manner to remedy its long ridden malpractice to restore the public confidence therein to avoid any costly proceedings

On behalf of BCIF,

Sincerely yours,
Ameenur Rasheed
Co-ordinator and Chief Administrative Officer (CCAO)
Bangladesh Centre Improvement Forum (BCIF)
157 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2RS
m: +447939847723
e: centre.bangladesh@yahoo.co.uk (official)
e: ameenur1@yahoo.co.uk (personal)

Our contacts
M A Matin
The Lead Convenor, BCIF
m: +447810564144

Jalal Hussein Khan Meah,
Designated Member, BCIF
m: +447837777142,
e: jalalkhan33@hotmail.com

Muhammed Asaduzzaman,
Designated Member, BCIF
m: +447852709007,
e: n.asad@hotmail.co.uk

M A Wahid,
Designated Membership and Joint Convenor
m: +447939056574

Azizul Haque Kayes,
Designated Member and Joint Convenor
m: +447904231738,
kayes_aziz@hotmail.com

Lukman Ahmed,
Designated Member and Joint Convenor,
m: +447930336328
e: lukman.ahmed@hotmail.co.uk