About Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS)

The Diabetic Association of Bangladesh was established on 28 February 1956 in Dhaka at the initiative of the late National Professor Dr M Ibrahim (1911-1989) and a group of social workers, philanthropists, physicians and civil servants. The Association started an out-patient clinic in 1957 in a small semipermanent structure of about 380 sq ft at Segun Bagicha, Dhaka. Over the years, the clinic has turned into a diabetes care and research complex at Shahbag, Dhaka, which, after the demise of Prof M Ibrahim in 1989, has been renamed as the Ibrahim Memorial Diabetes Centre.

BADAS is a nonprofit voluntary socio-medical service organization registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare under the Society’s Registration Act, 1860. It is run by a 32 member National Council of which 18 members from the life member category and 6 members from the Affiliated Association category are directly elected. One-third of the members (ie 6) from the life member category and 2 from the affiliated association retire every year by rotation and election to those one-third posts is held in every Annual General Meeting of the Association. The elected members elect the office-bearers of the National Council, consisting of a President, 3 Vice-Presidents, a Secretary General, a Treasurer, a Join Secretary General, and a Joinst Treasurer.

The President, so elected, nominates 5 members from amongst the Vice-chancellors and Professor of Universities in Bangladesh, Heads of National Research Organizations, Heads of Financial Institutions, Heads of Donor Agencies, Heads of Social Welfare Organizations, Heads of Professional bodies and reputed social workers. The Government nominates 3 ex-officio members representing the Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Social Welfare and Finance. The members nominated by the Government must be in the rank of at least of a Joint Secretary.

The National Council meets at least once a month and reviews the activities of the Association. It takes decisions on matters policy, budget and finance, planning and development. The executive power of the National Council is vested with the Secretary General who runs the different institutions through respective Board of Management with the help of the Treasurer, BADAS Secretariat and BADAS Project Office.