President HOBA convenes SGM in Flashman's Hotel
Monday, 30 November 2015 19:42
An un-signed circular has been posted on behalf of HOBA President, Syed Ashfaq Hussain in the Abdalians Group on Facebook. According to the circular, he has summoned a Special General Meeting (SGM) on 12th December, 2015 at Flashman Hotel from 3-5 PM to get approval of the majority on the working group pre-election agenda points. Venue bookings have already been made in this regard.
A normal legal process shall precede the SGM for adoption as per the present Memorandum and Articles of HOBA. The President shall also be considering the acceptance of resignation tendered by the Secretary General Mr. Nayyar Islam. It is still not confirmed, whether Mr. Nayyar Islam has actually resigned or not.
The Notice for SGM mentions four agenda points as follows:
(a) To pay registration fee and Membership fee to become a memebr of HOBA.
(b) Waive off the one year restriction to vote at an AGM.
(c) Independent Election Commission shall conduct and supervise the elections.
(d) Voting by proxy should be allowed. The mechanism shall be recommended by the WG for "evaluating" its "practicability" by the EC for "consideration and implementation (if found viable and doable".
All the above four points will be printed on the ballot paper, specially printed for the purpose of the impending SGM.
It would appear that the Notice for the SGM is a more of a compliance matter rather than resolving the mater at hand. The reduction of fees is in respect of the annual membership fees, ie., down from Rs. 1500/- to Rs. 300 for earning members and from Rs. 700/- to Rs. 300/- for student members. It would appear that this agenda point was put in the notice hastily and without any discussion.
Agenda item No.3 does not pose a question or a point of order for a vote. All it says is that an independent Election Commission shall conduct and supervise elections. It does not mention any thing at all on the formation and composition of such a Commission. So, technically, even if this agenda point is approved by the members present in the SGM, no benefit will accrue to the Abdalian community as such.
The last agenda point relates to voting by proxy. Even if the majority of members vote for its approval, it will still not benefit the Abdalian community, as it would be sent to the non-existent Election Commission for review.
The agenda items have been very carefully and craftily drafted so that the Abdalian community's fears could be laid to rest. It is strange to find out that the SGM notice is quiet on the demands of the community ie.,. resignations of the incumbent office bearers and a special exclusion clause that the incumbent office bearers shall not contest any further elections.