ARTICLE OF ASSOCIATION
Article 5. Membership
The Federation shall have following categories of memberships:
i. Permanent
ii. Provisional
iii. Associate
5.1. Any film society/ club with a minimum membership of 50 is entitled to Permanent membership provided:
i. it abides by the rules and regulations of the Federation;
ii. it pays the annual membership subscription fixed by the Executive Committee of the Federation. The Executive Committee will grant the Permanent membership to a society/ club that applies for it subject to the fulfillment of the provisions laid down in this article.
5.2. Any new film society/ club with less than 50 members may apply for Provisional membership and subsequently can qualify for Permanent membership provided
i. it agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Federation;
ii. it pays an admission fee fixed by the Executive Committee of the Federation:
iii. it arranges six (6) feature film shows and holds two (2,) seminars within a period of twenty (20) weeks: failing which its Provisional membership status will be withdrawn.
However, the same society/ club can apply for Provisional membership once again after six months of its losing earlier membership and after fulfilling the conditions laid down in this article can qualify to be a Permanent member.
The decision of granting Permanent membership to a Provisional member after the expire of such membership will rest with the Executive Committee subject to the fulfillment of the provisions laid down in this article.
5.3 Any branch unit of any Permanent member organization may become an Associate member provided:
i. it agrees to abide by the rules and regulations of the Federation;
ii. it pays an annual admission fee fixed by the Executive Committee.
5.4. All member organizations of any status are expected to send a quarterly report of their activities to the Federation.
5.5. The member organizations/clubs/associations will provide the Federation with the updated list of their members every year.
5.6. Application for membership should be made in prescribed form available from the office of the Federation and submitted to the General Secretary with required admission fees/ subscription.
Article 6. Subscription
6.1. Admission fee and annual subscription for membership shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee of the Federation.
6.2. Admission fee is Taka 300 (three hundred) for the Provisional members, and Taka 200 (two hundred) for the Associate members.
6.3. Admission fee and annual subscription shall be payable in advance for each year, either by crossed-cheque or bank draft or cash.
Article 7. Disqualification of Membership
7.1. Loss of membership :
A member organization will cease to be a member of the Federation if:
i. it acts against the interest of the Federation;
ii. it seeks affiliation or becomes a member of any other similar Federation within or outside the country;
iii. it fails to prove active for a period of three months at a stretch except during national emergency;
iv. it misappropriates the funds of the Federation;
v it fails to pay the annual membership fees for two consecutive years;
vi. it designs its membership in writing addressed to the President of the Federation.
However, all decisions regarding loss of membership of all nature must have to be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Federation prior to their final execution and the decision of the Executive Committee shall be regarded supreme.
7.2. Revival of membership of Permanent members :
A disqualified Permanent member may apply for membership after six (6) months from the date of its disqualification and the Executive Committee will have the full and sovereign power to decide whether that organization/ club/ society/ association can be given Permanent of Provisional membership status after reviewing the activities of the organization/ club/ association during those six (6) months.
Article 8. General Meetings
The General Meetings of the Federation shall be of three kinds i. Annual General Meeting;
ii Special General Meeting
iii. Requisitioned General Meeting.
8.1. The Annual General Meeting of the Federation shall generally be held by the month of December every year. The Annual General Meeting shall be called by the Secretary General in consultation with the President on at least three (3) weeks notice.
8.2. The Special General Meeting of the Federation shall be held when the President in consultation with the Secretary General thinks it necessary to hold it under certain special circumstances.
8.3 The Requisitioned General Meeting of the Federation shall be held when at least one-third of the total members of the Federation submit a written requisition stating the reasons for it. Such a Meeting must be called by the
Secretary General within four (4) weeks after receiving the requisition, failing which the members can approach the President for holding the Meeting. If the President subsequently fails to hold the Meeting within one week, the members can themselves call the meeting on two weeks notice.
Any decision in the Requisitioned General Meeting can be taken on a simple majority of the members present in the meeting. However, any major decision such as amendment of the constitution, must be taken on two-thirds majority of the total members of the Federation.
8.4. The Annual General Meeting will be the assembly of all Permanent, Provisional and Associate Members but only Permanent Members shall have the right to vote. However, the Associate Members can participate in deliberations.
8.5. Each member organization/club/society/association shall send four member delegates to represent at the Annual/Special/Requisitioned General Meetings and such members shall be called Councilors and one of the Councilors shall act as the official spokesman/leader of such delegation; however, each permanent member organization/club/society/association will have only one voting right.
8.6. Quorum for General Meetings :
i. The quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be formed by the presence of at least one-third of the total members of the Federation.
ii. The quorum for the Special General Meeting or Requisitioned General Meeting shall be formed by the presence of at least half of the total members of the Federation.
Article 9. Function of Annual General Meeting
9.1. The Annual General Meeting shall :
i. consider the report of the Secretary General;
ii. consider the audit report of the Finance Secretary;
iii. consider the proposal budget for each working year;
iv. consider proposal/s of the member organizations;
v . amend any article/part/laws/sub laws/rules of the Constitution of the Federation, if needed;
vi. consider any other matter as may be felt necessary by the Executive Committee of the Federation.
9.2. Elect office bearers and members of the Executive Committee for two years term in its biennial annual general meeting.
Article 10. Executive Committee
10-1. The management of the affairs of the Federation shall be entrusted to an Executive Committee composed of
i. President - One
ii. Vice-Presidents - Two
iii. Secretary General - One
iv. Joint Secretary - One
v. Finance Secretary - One
vi. Organizing Secretary One
vii. Press and Publication Secretary - One
viii. Office Secretary - One
ix. Executive Members - Six
10.2. The office-bearers (except the President) and the Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the Biennial Annual General Meeting of the Federation as per election rules to be framed by the Executive Committee.
10.3. The tenure of the office-bearers and the members of the Executive Committee shall be of two years unless :
i. The whole or the majority of the Executive Committee (the office-bearers and the Executive Members) resign;
ii. A no-confidence motion is taken against the Executive Committee in the Annual /Special/Requisitioned General Meeting.
10.4. Same persons cannot be elected for the posts of President, Vice Presidents and Secretary General for more than two successive tenures. However, after a recess of one tenure they will be eligible once again.
Article 11 Powers and Functions of the Executive Committee The Executive Committee of the Federation shall have the power:
i. to elect the President in its first meeting;
ii. to co-opt members to fill in all casual vacancies in the Executive Committee;
iii. to elect office-bearers from within the Executive Committee if any post falls vacant;
iv. to set up committees, subcommittees, etc. for any specific business as may require comprising members of the Executive Committee or of the members of organizations/clubs/societies;
v. to appoint auditors for annual audit of the accounts.
vi. The Executive Committee will form an Advisory Committee in their first Executive Committee meeting from among the film personalities, past presidents of the Federation and patrons of the Federation.
Article 12. Meetings of the Executive Committee
The meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held when the Secretary General, in consultation with the President, thinks it necessary or when one-third of the total Executive Committee members requisition such meetings in an emergency situation. All meetings of the Executive Committee needed to be notified at least a week ahead, but Requisitioned/Emergency Meetings can be called with a short notice of twenty four hours only.
12.1. The quorum of the Executive Committee meetings shall be formed by the presence of one-third of the total members of the Executive Committee.
12.2. All decisions to be taken by the Executive Committee shall require simple majority of the members of the Executive Committee present in the meeting. Each member shall have one vote and in case of a tie, the President will have a casting vote.
12.3. At least 9 (nine) Executive Committee meetings should be held in a year. However, the Executive Committee may Meet as many times as it feels necessary.
12.4. Nominated Advisory Members can attend Executive Committee Meetings by invitation of the Secretary General in consultation with the President. : In that case, Advisory Members can advise to the Executive Committee, but cannot participate in voting for any matter.
Article 13. Requisitioned Executive Committee Meeting
If the Secretary General fails to call a requisitioned meeting indented for by onethird members of the Executive Committee within two (2) weeks from the date of receipt of the requisition for the meeting the signatories therein themselves may call the requisitioned meeting and deal with the business for which the meeting has been convened. However, a prior notice of one week for holding such meeting will be required.
Article 14. Powers and Functions of the Office-Bearers of the Executive Committee a. President
i. To lead the Federation and to preside over its Executive Committee as per rules and regulations of the Constitution of the Federation.
ii. To preside at all the meetings of the Federation and of the Executive Committee (except the first meeting of the Executive Committee).
iii. To uphold the image and the ideals of the Federation at home and abroad
b. Vice - Presidents
i. To preside at the General or Executive Meetings in absence of the President.
ii. To perform all the duties and undertake all the responsibilities of the Federation in the absence of the President.
iii. The seniority of the Vice-Presidents shall be determined by the number of votes they receive in their election or seniority of the Federation Activity. c. Secretary General
i. To run the administrative activities of the Federation, and to carry the responsibilities imposed on him by the Federation.
ii. To convene all the Executive Committee Meetings and General Meetings in consultation with the President or Vice president in any emergency purpose.
iii. To prepare and place the budget of the working year of the Federation to the Executive Committee before putting it up at the Annual General Meeting for approval.
iv. To organize and preserve all the files and documents of the Federation.
v To prepare the Annual Report of the Federation and present it at the Annual General Meetings of the Federation with prior approval of the Executive Committee.
vi. To keep a maximum amount of Tk. 1,000.00 ( One Thousand) from the Federation fund at his disposal for any incidental expenses.
vii. The Joint-Secretary will carry out the functions and responsibilities of the Secretary General as may be delegated by the President in the absence of the General Secretary for two or more months.
viii. To perform any other functions as entrusted to him by the Executive Committee.
ix. In consultation with the President, the Secretary General will, spend money from the Federation fund for carrying out activities of the Federation. However, this shall have to be approved by the next Executive Committee meeting.
d. Joint - Secretary
i. To help the Secretary General in the latter's discharge of duties and responsibilities.
ii. To perform the duties entrusted to him by the Secretary General as per the Constitution.
To perform the duties and carry out the responsibilities in the absence of the Secretary General.
e. Finance Secretary
To maintain the accounts of income and expenditure of the Federation and to preserve all necessary documents regarding accounts.
To disburse money according to the budget approval by the Executive Committee meetings.
To present audited accounts of income and expenditure of the Federation at the Annual General Meeting.
f. Organizing Secretary,
To look after all organizing matters, such as arranging seminars, workshops, discussion meetings, film-shows, etc., on behalf of the Federation.
To keep track of the activities of the member organizations. To initiate membership drive if and when necessary.
g. Press and Publication Secretary
To take necessary measures to publicize all activities of the Federation, and to maintain public relations.
To take all responsibilities of publication and documentation of the Federation and act also as Public Relations Secretary of the Federation. To liaise with the member organizations/ clubs/ associations.
h. Office Secretary
To run office activities and be present in the office of the Federation to attend to daily queries.
To maintain files including filing of incoming and outgoing letters, etc.
To write the minutes of every meeting and place it to the next meeting for approval.
i Executive Members
Executive Committee Members will remain present at the Executive Committee . Meetings participate in discussions to help the Executive Committee take decisions, assist the office bearers in the discharge of their duties, disseminate and propagate ideals, aims and objectives of the Federation among the members and perform duties and responsibilities as and when entrusted with by the Executive Committee.
Article 15. Sources and Operations of Funds
15.1. Other than usual membership fees financial assistance or grants from any source will be received in the interest of the Federation. But such grant or assistance should have no conditions attached to it.
15.2. The funds of the Federation should be deposited in a savings account of a scheduled bank of Bangladesh in the letterhead name of the Federation.
15.3. The bank account will be operated by the Finance Secretary and the President or the Secretary General of the Federation.
15-4. The Finance Secretary will keep all accounts of expenditure for auditing at the end of each financial year.
Article 16. Election and Rules and Regulations for Election
16-1. The election of the Executive Committee except the post of the President shall be held at the Annual General Meeting on a two-year term basis.
16-2. A four week notice from the date of its issuance will be required for holding the election and the notice will be by the Secretary General in consultation with the President.
16.3. A three member Election Commission shall be constituted by the Executive Committee at least a month before the election. There will be one Chief E lection Commissioner and two Assistant Election Commissioners.
16.4 Nomination papers shall be obtained from the Election Commission office within the date fixed by the Commission and the election shall be held exactly after seven (7) days from the date of submission of the nomination papers to the Election Commission.
16 5 The election will be by secret ballot.
16.6. The decision of the Election commission regarding election will be final.
16.7 T e president shall be ' elected by the newly elected Executive Committee members in their first Executive Committee Meeting which will be presided by the Chief Election Commissioner.
16.8 Any member Organization possessing the voting right can nominate Two candidates for any two posts (except the post of the President) in the election of the Federation.
16.9. The candidate must be nominated by the organization/ club/ society concerned.
16.10 Prescribed bed forms obtainable from the Election Commission must be filled in properly for the submission of nomination of the candidates. Incomplete or unfilled in nomination papers will be cancelled by the Election.
16.11 member organization/ club/ society can nominate only two candidates for the ~ ~c: ~^ to the Federation Executive Committee. However, if the number of members falls short of the total number of the Executive Committee Members to be eecvd the same member organization/club/society can nominate more than two for the Executive Committee membership.
16.12. Each- member organization/ club/ society will nominate one member from among their Delegates Councilors to cast vote in the election of the Federation.
16.13. To be eligible to vote the member organization/club/society must pay its memberbership fees up to the year of election.
16.14. fee shall be fixed by the Election Commission before the Election.
Article 17. Amendment of the Constitution
17.1. The Constitution can be amended by two-thirds majority of the members of the Federation present at the Annual General Meeting. The proposal for such amendment shall be supported by at least five (5) members of the Federation and submitted to the Executive Committee at least sixty (60) days before the Annual General Meeting
17.2. Any amendment so adopted will form integral part of the Constitution immediately.
Article 18. Dissolution of the Federation
18.1. If three-fourths of the total member organizations/ clubs/ societies vote in favour of dissolution, the Federation shall be dissolved. In such case the assets and liabilities of the Federation. shall have to be assessed by a registered accounting farm, and if after meeting all liabilities there is any balance, it should be equally shared by the member organizations/ clubs/societies.
This Constitution came into operation from October 09, 1975 and after some amendments came into effect from December 1983. It was revised thoroughly and was approved on and came into effect from August 08, 1998.