BASIS press conference sparks allegation of reporter being harassed

A senior reporter of The Shuttle Times was allegedly subjected to rude and intimidating behaviour by a member of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) Associate Committee during a press conference at the organisation's office in Dhaka on Saturday.

The reporter, Mazharul Islam Mitchel, said Engr Ferdous Alam, a member of the BASIS Associate Committee and founder and CEO of Etuva Technologies, behaved inappropriately with him when he raised questions about the authority under which the press conference had been organised.

The press conference was held by the current BASIS Associate Committee to present its position on allegations involving one of its members.

However, BASIS Administrator Khadija Naznin said she had not been informed about the event or given approval for it.

"I just learned about it from you," she told The Shuttle Times when asked about the press conference.

The administrator also indicated that she could consider stepping down if members of the support committee continued to organise activities without consulting her.

During the press conference, Mitchel asked about the administrator's approval for holding the event. At that point, Ferdous allegedly objected to the question and behaved aggressively towards the reporter.

According to people present at the event, Ferdous told the reporter, "Don't we have a say? Are we just floating here?"

The confrontation allegedly continued after the press conference ended. Other BASIS members intervened and attempted to calm the situation.

As Mitchel was leaving the BASIS office, Ferdous allegedly stopped him and asked for his visiting card. He then questioned the reporter's journalistic credentials, telling him, "Learn journalism first, then ask questions."

According to witnesses, the situation escalated further and Ferdous allegedly attempted to humiliate the reporter before other members intervened. The reporter subsequently left the BASIS office.

The incident took place against the backdrop of questions over the authority under which the press conference was organised.

The BASIS administrator's comments indicate that she was not aware of the event beforehand. However, the current BASIS committee's explanation for organising the press conference without her prior knowledge, as well as Ferdous Alam's account of the confrontation, could not be independently obtained immediately.