The Australia Bangladesh Business Council (ABBC) held its 13th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 20 March, 2021 at the ‘Rowers on Cooks River’ in Sydney’s Wolli Creek. Over 80% of the financial members of the organization attended the AGM, discussed general course of business, presented financial and annual report and elected a new executive committee for a term of 2 years.
During the first part of the AGM, the outgoing Chairperson, Asif Kawnine highlighted the achievements of his committee since being elected in April 2018. It was applauded amongst all members and guests that ABBC has become a substantial organization and a peak body for bilateral trade and investment between Australia and Bangladesh. A key achievement of the current committee being the co-host with the Government of Bangladesh through the High Commission in Canberra to deliver the historic first-ever 3 day-long Australia Bangladesh Trade Conference (ABTC) at the Intercontinental Sydney in November 2019 was highly celebrated by the delegates.
The activities of ABBC during this term catalised opening of dialogue on the current trade and investment relationship between Australia and Bangladesh and to assess potential opportunities, risks and challenges between the two economies by way of robust dialogue and discussion among key stakeholders including the public and private sector of both Australia and Bangladesh. Asif Kawnine thanked all office bearers and executive members of the organization for their relentless effort in making ABBC the substantial business association it is today.
Abdul Hoque, the outgoing Treasurer, reported the financials of ABBC through which it was evident that the organization has created a much healthier financial position over the term in comparison to any earlier terms while carrying out events and activities of significant budget.
Upon conclusion of general business, the committee was dissolved by the Chairperson and an election for a new committee was conducted by Anthony Khouri OAM, Former Honorary Consul General of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as election commissioner with Monirul Islam and Abu Reza Arefin assisting him in the conduction. The current Consul General for Bangladesh Khandker Masudul Alam was special guest at the AGM and applauded ABBC’s contribution to the greater purpose of economic ties between the two countries.
Members exercised their voting rights to elect the new executive committee and a robust election took place.
- Asif Kawnine was unanimously re-elected to be the Chairperson for the new term.
- Abdul Hoque and Md. Abu Shahdat Sarkar were elected as Vice-Chairperson.
- Md Ariful Haque Sarker was re-elected as Secretary;
- AHM Motasim Billah and Zahangir Alam were elected as Assistant Secretary
- Mohammed Hossain as Treasurer.
Eight Executive Members were elected as follows:
- Sazeda Akter
- Rahmat Ullah
- Liton Baul
- Alexandar John Xenos
- Rashed Khan
- Md Shahinul Islam
- Towha Mohammad
- Alasdair Dougall
The new office bearers and Executive Committee will select the Advisory Board of the Australia Bangladesh Business Council (ABBC) in the first Executive Committee (EC) meeting of this term.
