BAMANEH

Bangladesh Association for Maternal and Neonatal Health (BAMANEH)

Constitution

Name of the Society

The name of the Society is “The Bangladesh Association for Maternal and Neonatal Health” to be abbreviated as “BAMANEH”

Location

The Registered office of BAMANEH shall be located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Term of the Programme

The term of the Programme shall be for such a period as is considered necessary to attain the programme objectives in the broader interest of the country. “In case of abolition, the programme activities will be handed over to the some other similar voluntary organization.”

Purpose of the Society

One of the major health problems in Bangladesh relates to the high level of morbidity and mortality among mothers and newborns. For every thousand live births in this country, 4-5 mothers die as a consequence of reproductive casualty and about 77 infants die before their first birthday. The currently available institutional facility can institutionalize only 5 percent of all childbirths, leaving the remaining 95 percent at the mercy of untrained dais and TBAs. Ignorance, cultural and social prejudice and the prevailing illiteracy multiplies the problems.

The magnitude, genesis and determinants of the problems relating to maternal and Neonatal health are largely unknown. The Government neither has adequate resources to solve these problems, nor have sufficient understanding of the problems to formulate appropriate policy. Therefore voluntary support is crucially needed to supplement Governments efforts. The Society thus seeks to generate professional interest in maternal and neonatal health and organize support in favor of programmatic actions thereof.

Programme objectives

The programme objectives of BAMANEH are as below:

1. To identify the magnitude, dimension and genesis of health problem of health problems in Bangladesh as it relates to maternal and neonatal health.

2. To bring to the public focus and professional attention the factors relevant to above problems with a view to create necessary awareness.

3. To evolve appropriate solution of the existing problems of maternal and neonatal health, with a view to formulate national policy in this regard.

4. To promote causes that contributes towards improvement of maternal and neonatal Health in Bangladesh.

5. To sponsor and promote studies and research in the area of maternal and neonatal Health in Bangladesh.

6. To organize financial and institutional support for studies and research in maternal And neonatal health. g) To establish a mutually beneficial collaboration at international level by affiliating itself with International Association for Maternal and Neonatal Health (IAMANEH), and other related international federations. h) To organize branches in the peripheral areas of the country as and when necessary, to widely disseminate the concept and principles of BAMANEH.

The signatories below shall be considered as the founding members of the Program:

RULES OF BUSINESS OF THE BANGLADESH ASSOCIATION FOR MATERNAL AND NEONATAL HEALTH (BAMANEH)

INTERPRETATION

1. The framing of the constitution of BAMANEH and these Rules and Regulations of the Programme, unless expressed or implied by the context to the contrary.

“The Ordinance” shall mean the Registration/Control of Voluntary Agencies in Maternity, Child Health and Family Planning activities (Regulation and Control) Ordinance, 1961 (XLVI of 1961) as amended, vide notification No. FP-11/354/ 75/ 155 dated 20-4-77 of the Population Control and Family Planning Division.

“The Programme” shall mean BAMANEH.

“The Constitution” shall mean the constitution of BAMANEH.

“The office” shall mean the head office of BAMANEH as may be situated anywhere in Dhaka City.

“The Business” or “Affairs: or “Functions” of the Programme shall include the several objects or any of them expressed in the constitution.

The terms “Person” or “Persons” shall include Organizations and Institutions.

The terms “Personnel” and “Officials” shall be synonymous.

“The President” shall mean the President of the Executive Committee.

The terms “Society” and “Program” shall be synonymous.

MANAGEMENT OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL

2. Any person who is a citizen of Bangladesh and is reached major and has expertise and interest in the following areas, is eligible to become a member of the General Council, if recommended at least by two existing members and approved by the Executive Committee: a) Human Reproduction. b) Obstetrics and Gynecology. c) Maternal& Child Health. d) Neonatal Health e) Maternal and child nutrition. f) Family Planning and Contraception. g) Health and Welfare.

3. The General Council for the purpose of registration is declared to consist of 30 members. The Executive Committee may increase the number of the members of the General Council whenever the activities of the Programme so requires.

4. The decision of the Executive Committee for or against any applicant for membership of the General Council shall be final and in giving such decision the Executive Committee shall not be bound to give any reason thereof.

5. The membership subscription shall be such an amount as may be determined by the General Council from time to time payable within the first month of his/her becoming a member and every 11 months thereafter.

6. A member shall cease to be the member of the General Council for any of the following reasons:

a) On his/her tendering resignation and acceptance thereof by the Executive Committee.

b) If his/her subscription is in arrear for 2 years consecutively and on expiry of the notice caused to be served by the Executive Committee calling upon the defaulting member to pay the subscription.

c) If he/she is adjudged an insolvent or of unsound mind.

d) If his/her activity is considered prejudicial or detrimental to the interest of the Programme and is consequently expelled by the General Council by a resolution passed by two-thirds of the members present in the meeting.

e) On his/her death.

PROVIDED THAT, a member shall before expulsion be given a notice of the charge/complaint except in case of death and an opportunity of replying to the same within a definite time period.

7. Any member who shall cease to be a member shall, nevertheless, remain liable for and shall pay to the General Council all sums which at the time of cessation of his/her membership may be due from him/her.

8. A list of the members of the General Council shall be maintained in a register to be kept for that purpose in the office of BAMANEH mentioning the names, address and occupations of the members and in which all changes taking place from time to time in the number and other particulars of the members shall be recorded.

RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

9.All members of the General Council shall be entitled to all such information as related to the objectives of BAMANEH or to any of the projects undertaken the rounder.

10 No right or privilege of any member shall in any way be transferable or transmissible and all such rights and privileges shall cease upon the member ceasing to be such whether by death, resignation or otherwise.

 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

11. The affairs of BAMANEH shall be managed by the Executive Committee.

12. The Executive Committee shall consist of 9 members, namely, the President, the vice- President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and five other members. The President, the Vice-president, the Secretary, the Treasurer and five other members shall be elected directly by the members of the General Council present in it’s meeting, for a term of 5 years.

13. The election of the Executive Committee shall be conducted in such a manner as may be prescribed by the Executive Committee, subject to the principle of direct election.

14. The office of the elected member of the Executive Committee shall be vacated - a) On his/her resignation from the office and acceptance thereof by the Executive Committee.

b) On his/her ceasing to be a member of the General Council.

c) If he/she absents himself/herself from three consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee without its leave.

15. At the end of the term of his/her office, an elected member of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for re-election.

FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

16. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for managing the affairs of BAMANEH in general and shall have the following functions and powers in particular:

a) To consider and approve all projects under BAMANEH.

b) To appoint a Technical Committee to scrutinize and recommend the approval of

all projects under BAMANEH.

c) To cause to be prepared the annual report of BAMANEH.

d) To cause the accounts of BAMANEH to be audited by appropriate agency/ person.

e) To prescribe the procedure for the election of the Executive Committee.

f) To cause proper books of accounts to be maintained with respect to all sums of money received and expended for managing the affairs of BAMANEH and to all its assets and liabilities.

g) To cause to be prepared a Balance Sheet in every year and laid before the General Council for review.

h) To cause to be done the regular maintenance of all the project facilities acquired Under the Programme.

i) To distribute and redistribute the functions of the Executive Committee among its members.

j) To cause to be recorded in a register provided for that purpose all appointments Of officials made under the Programme.

k) To determine the categories and number of the Programme personnel required for running the affairs of the Programme.

l) To assume new or additional business in the interest of the Programme. 

FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT

17. The President of the Executive Committee shall discharge all the functions and exercise all the powers of the Executive Committee when it is not in session. However, the President shall obtain concurrence of the Executive Committee in respect of all decisions and steps that he may have taken in the interest of the Programme when the Executive Committee is not in session.

18. The President, shall have the following functions and powers in addition to those enumerated in Rule 17:

a) The President may organize institutional and funding support for the Programme activities.

b) The President in consultation with the Executive Committee may appoint the programme personnel.

c) The President in consultation with the Executive Committee may grant remuneration, allowances, leave of absence etc. to the Programme personnel in accordance with the terms of their employment.

d) The President in consultation with the Executive Committee may determine the terms of employment, extension, termination, leave and to her benefits of the Programme personnel.

e) The President in consultation with the Executive Committee may select any member of the Executive Committee or the General Council to represent the interests of the Programme at any forum either in Bangladesh or abroad.

f) The President may delegate any or all of his/her functions and powers to Vice- President of the Executive Committee.

FUNCTIONS AND POWERS OF THE SECRETARY

19. A) The Secretary, in consultation with the President Shall convene all meetings, and maintain the proceedings and the minutes of the meeting.

b) The Secretary under the overall guidance of the President shall manage the affairs of the office of the Association.

MEETING OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL

20. The General Council shall meet at least once during the calendar year by prior notification. The place, date time of such meetings shall also be notified.

21. The General Council may transact the following business during its meetings:

a) Adopt annual report of BAMANEH. b) Pass the Audited accounts of BAMANEH as arranged between the Executive Committee and where appropriate any funding agency. c) Confirm the election (if any) of the Executive Committee. d) Transact any other business with the permission of the President.

22. No business of the General Council shall be transacted in any of its meetings unless a quorum of one fourth of the total members is present at the commencement of the meetings. If within an hour from the time appointed for the meeting the aforesaid quorum is not present, the meeting shall stand adjourned. A further notification shall be issued mentioning the place, date and time of the next meeting.

23. The President of the Executive Committee shall preside over the meetings of the General Council. In the absence of the President the vice-president will preside over the meeting.

24. All resolutions adopted in the meetings of the General Council shall be recorded in a register provided for that purpose and circulated among the members.

25. Each member of the General Council shall have one vote to be cast personally and in case of an equality of votes whether on a show of hands or on a poll, the President of the meeting shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.

26. No member shall be entitled to vote at any meting of the General Council unless all dues presently payable by him/her on any account whatever, have been paid.

MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

27. The Executive Committee shall meet as frequently as needed and not less than once in every three months at the Registered Office of BAMANEH.

28. The President of the Executive Committee shall preside over all its meetings.

29. All resolutions or decisions taken in the meetings of the Executive Committee shall be recorded in a register provided for that purpose.

30. Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the President shall have a casting vote.

BUDGET

31. Local Private Funds, if any: BAMANEH will make efforts in obtaining government assistance and grants, if possible to substantiate its budget.

32. Government Grant, if any: BAMANEH will make efforts in obtaining Government assistance and grants, if possible, to substantiate its budget.

33. Foreign assistance and grant, if any: BAMANEH and other foreign donor agencies as arranged by IAMANEH shall provide funding to feed the budget of BAMANEH.

ACCOUNTS

34. The Executive Committee shall cause proper books of accounts to be kept with respect to -

a) All sums of money received and expended for managing the affairs of BAMANEH.

b) The assets and liabilities of BAMANEH.

35. The books of accounts shall be kept at the registered office of BAMANEH and shall be opened to the inspection of the members of the Executive Committee.

36. The Executive Committee shall cause to be prepared a Balance Sheet in every year and laid before the General Council and IAMANEH for review.

37. The Executive Committee shall cause to be maintained with any scheduled bank two separate accounts, one for the Society’s Fund and the other for the project funds . Any two of shall jointly operate the account in respect of the Society’s fund the following three officials: (i) President, (2) Secretary and (3) Treasurer. The account in respect of the project The Chief Executive Director of the Programme shall operate funds jointly activities and any other person designated by the President. 38. a) Loan - Borrow or raise money in such manner as the Association may think fit, and collect subscriptions for the purpose of the Association. The President and Secretary is authorized to sign contracts for the purpose of taking loans.

b) Do all such other lawful things as may be incidental or conducive to the promotion or carrying out of the foregoing objects or any one of them.

AUDIT

39. The Executive Committee of BAMANEH shall cause the accounts of BAMANEH projects supported by IAMANEH or other International agencies to be audited once every year by mutual arrangement with international agencies on international standards.

PROGRAMME FACILITIES

40. The Particulars of the facilities of BAMANEH shall be recorded in a register to be provided for the purpose under appropriately detailed heads.

 PROGRAMME EVALUATION

41. The Executive Committee of BAMANEH shall arrange the evaluation of the Programme supported by IAMANEH or other international agencies in consultation with IAMANEH.

USE OF RESEARCH REPORTS

42. The reports of research from the various projects under BAMANEH shall be laid open for use of reference by any person or any agency within the country and the Government as and when required. Publication of any research material supported by BAMANEH will be subject to review by the Executive Committee or any such Committee designed by the Executive Committee.

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Edited by Aldo Campana,