Staff Reporter : Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA) is an organization of owners of private medical colleges in Bangladesh. This organization was registered as a joint stock company in 2010. This organization, registered as a joint stock company in 2010, is being operated under Section 28 of the Companies Act, 1994. Out of the 67 private medical colleges in the country, 55 private medical colleges are current members of BPMCA. The organization is run through an executive committee consisting of 21 members as per the Commercial Organization Ordinance of 1961 and the Commercial Organization Rules of 1994. However, there have been allegations of irregularities in the upcoming election of the organization’s executive committee (2025-2027 term). The candidates have also alleged that various decisions are being taken against the constitution of the organization to benefit a specific panel.
According to BPMCA sources, as per the decision of the 115th meeting of Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA) held on March 25, 2025 and under Rule-14(1) of the Business Organization Rules, 1994 and Article 27 of the Association’s Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, a 3 (three) member (1 Chairman and 2 Members) Election Board was formed for a period of 2 years (2025-2027). Managing Director of Green Life Medical College Dr. Md. Moinul Ahsan was made the Chairman of the Election Board and Adviser Professor of Ad-Din Women’s Medical College Dr. Md. Afiqur Rahman and Director of Khulna City Medical College Dr. Mostafa Kamal were made members.
It has been learned that on April 19, 2025, a notice signed by the Chairman and two other members of the Election Board was issued to the names of two (2) representatives of the college management authority to become voters in the elections for the 2025-2027 term of the BPMCA Executive Committee and to pay the outstanding subscription by May 14, 2025. In addition, on the same date, a memorandum signed by the Chairman and two other members announced the election notice (2025-2027) and the election schedule for the BPMCA Executive Committee (2025-2027 term).
Later, the Election Notice (2025-2027) and the Election Re-Scheduling Announcement under the same memorandum and date also bear the signatures of three members of the Election Board. Published on 07 May 2025 The notice regarding the election rules for the BPMCA Executive Council Election (2025-2027) and the rules for payment of fees published on 28 May 2025 bears the signatures of the Chairman and two other members of the Election Board. In addition, the primary voter list published on 22 May 2025 and the final voter list published on 29 May also bear the signatures of three members of the Election Board.
It is alleged that according to the re-schedule announced by the Election Board, the nomination papers were to be scrutinized and the list of legally nominated candidates was to be published on June 15, 2025, but the draft candidate list has been published, which only has the signature of the Chairman of the Election Board. Although the names of the other two members are there, they did not sign there. According to Section 27 of the BPMCA Association Rules, the Election Board consists of three members. Therefore, several candidates have expressed their anger that the Chairman does not represent the Election Board alone without the other two members.
In addition, the final list of validly nominated candidates was published on June 18 as per the re-schedule , which also has only the chairman’s signature. There is also a significant difference between the published draft candidate list and the list of validly nominated candidates.
· According to the draft candidate list, there is 1 candidate for the post of Organizing Secretary (Divisional-Chittagong Division). However, the name of Rais Abdur Rab has been added to the list of validly nominated candidates, making the number of candidates 2.
· There are 7 candidates in the draft candidate list for the four posts of joint secretary. However, there are 8 in the list of valid nominated candidates. The name of Nizamuddin Hasan Rashid has been newly added.
· Although there is 1 candidate in the draft candidate list for the post of Organizing Secretary (Divisional-Rajshahi Division), the list of validly nominated candidates has been increased to 2 by adding the name of Gazi Sejan Tanvir. In this case too, irregularities have been committed as Gazi Sejan Tanvin is the director of Gazi Medical College in Khulna, although he is the candidate for Rajshahi Division.
· Although the draft candidate list has 5 candidates for the three posts of executive member, the list of validly nominated candidates has 6. The name of Dr. Shah Md. Selim has been newly added.
Due to various inconsistencies in the election, some candidates are also expressing doubts about whether the president of the election board will ultimately conduct the election in a fair and impartial manner due to disagreements with the president’s sole authority.
A candidate for the post of joint secretary said, “The chairman has single-handedly taken a decision on an important issue like the list of valid candidates for the election, excluding the other two members of the election board, thereby questioning the impartiality of the election. I demand the re-publication of the list of valid candidates signed by the three members of the election board.”
Meanwhile, the BPMCA Secretary, through the Election Board, published a notification regarding the election in the Prothom Alo newspaper on June 20, 2025. However, it is known that there is no such post in the BPMCA or the Election Board.
According to reliable sources, on June 15, 2025, during the verification of nomination papers by the Election Board, several nomination papers were rejected as per Section 5 of the previously announced election rules (if the name of the candidate/proposer/supporter is misspelled, overwritten, attempted to erase any writing with an eraser, any cutting of the writing or any incorrect information is provided in the nomination paper, the nomination paper will be considered rejected). According to the section of the election rules, 2 members of the Election Board wanted to stick to their decision, but the Chairman of the Election Board did not agree to it. When the other members of the Election Board refused to sign the draft candidate list published on June 15, only the President signed it. Later, the list was published with the signature of only the President, with which the other two members did not agree. Since according to Section 27 of the Association Rules, three people constitute the Election Board, only the Chairman’s consent cannot be considered the decision of the Election Board, the other two members of the Election Board have mentioned.
The investigation found that on June 21, 2025, the Election Board Office’s memorandum BPMCA/2025/10/498 published only two final lists of validly nominated candidates signed by the President of the Election Board. However, there is a difference between the two lists published. In one list, the name of Dr. Mahfuza Jasmine is for the post of Legal Affairs Secretary and Dr. Md. Emdadul Haque is for the post of Education, Cultural and Social Welfare Secretary. In the other list, Dr. Mahfuza Jasmine is for the post of Education, Cultural and Social Welfare Secretary and Dr. Md. Emdadul Haque is for the post of Legal Affairs Secretary.
Despite various irregularities, the election is scheduled to be held on July 16, 2025. However, the candidates are also expressing doubts about whether the election will be conducted in a fair and impartial manner. There are also allegations that the constitution of the organization is inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution to favor a specific panel and that the president is making unilateral decisions on various issues, bypassing two members of the election board.
In this regard, Professor Dr. Md. Afiqur Rahman, a member of the Election Board for the BPMCA Executive Committee Election (2025-2027), said, “We were continuing our activities as members of the Election Board. Several meetings have been completed successfully. However, during the verification of the nomination papers, various inconsistencies including misspellings and overwriting of the names of some candidates were found. With the consent of three members of the Election Board, the nominations of four candidates were canceled and in the interest of fair elections, we agreed. Later, when the valid and final candidate list was made with the names of the canceled candidates, we two members refused to sign. The president signed the valid and final candidate list on his own responsibility, which we do not agree with. We are not involved in the rest of the activities.”
Election Board President Dr. Md. Moinul Ahsan said, “We have not done anything outside the rules. Not a single hair has gone outside the rules. Everything has been done within the rules.” At this time, he said that he was busy and asked to contact the BPMCA office .