The Constitution
Article 1.0: Name of the Association
1.1. Name: The name of the Association shall be Women Architects, Engineers, Planners Association (WAEPA), Bangladesh. The Acronym shall be WAEPA, Bangladesh.
1.2. Acronym: The Acronym of the Association shall be WAEPA Bangladesh wherein ‘W’
refers to Women, ‘A’ for Architects, ‘E’ for Engineers, ‘P for Planners, and ‘A’ for Association.
1.3. Monogram: The monogram of WAEPA, Bangladesh shall be used on the letterhead,
banner, seal, and pad for official use. The monogram shall be used by the Executive Committee member in the visiting card.
Article 2.0: Central office
- a) Central Office: The office of the Association shall be in Dhaka.
- b) Area of Activities: The area shall cover the whole of Bangladesh.
Article 3.0. Status
WAEPA, Bangladesh is to be recognized as the Apex Body and Voice of Women Technical professionals of Bangladesh.
This Association as a learned body of an active group of Women Technical Professionals (referred to holders of a bachelors degree and above of all branches of Architecture, Engineering, Urban and Regional planning disciplines) would be devoted to the advancement of women architects, engineers, and planners and foster the aspiration of nation-building and socio-economic development along with the ever cherished longing for empowerment and emancipation of women at home and horizon which constitutes the mission of the Association.
This Association shall be a non-political, non –governmental organization and shall function under a common seal.
WAEPA, Bangladesh shall be registered under the Joint Stock Company, Social Welfare, and all other forums following the decision of the Executive Committee.
Article 4.0. Aims and Objectives
The Women Architects, Engineers, Planners Association (WAEPA), Bangladesh is established with the following aims and objectives:
4.1. WAEPA, Bangladesh aims to make Women Technical Professionals more effective both professionally by developing their professional attitude in services and practices and personally which ultimately advance and develop the women’s employment status and career.
4.2. WAEPA, Bangladesh shall address the issues of Women Technical Professionals of
Bangladesh focusing on a). Problems at workplace b). Employment friendly attitude. c).
Barriers in employment d). Employment of women graduates. e). Institutional capacity building for women in technical education and profession. f). Empowerment of women professionals to represent equally in development projects and programs g) Equal opportunity to get training and higher education in the home and abroad. h) Societal attitudes towards technical professions.
4.3. It aims to build awareness and respect for women technical professional’s rights and support their career building.
4.4. It also aims to promote technical women’s equal access to all levels of employment
including policy, decision, planning, and implementation
4.5. This Association believes in gender equality, a gender-friendly environment in the workplace, and gender balance in the technical profession.
4.6. To provide a platform whereby the Association can correlate with different development works.
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4.7. To promote and collaborate with, assist and maintain links with similar Women’s Groups at home and abroad.
4.8. To conduct, research, and organize seminars, conferences, workshops, exhibitions, and competitions.
4.9. To publish periodicals.
4.10. To study and publicize the problems and the achievements of women technical
professionals of Bangladesh through indicators, information, and communication systems.
4.11. To introduce Honor and Award program for the women technical professionals for her outstanding achievement in professional field and to offer encouragement and reward to members, individual and institutions.
4.12. To supplement the activities of the Institute of Architects, Bangladesh (IAB), Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), and Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP).
4.13 The aims and objectives would be achieved through networking, liaison, and support building of all Stakeholders.
Article 5.0. Membership
5.1. Categories and qualification of members:
The Association shall comprise of members, life members, and honorary members
5.1.1 Members: Bangladeshi women who graduals in Architecture, Engineering, Urban, and Regional Planning disciplines from any University or Institution of Bangladesh and other recognized organizations abroad are eligible to become members of WAEPA, Bangladesh.
5.1.2. Life members: Women Technical professionals having qualifications to become a
member shall on payment of TK.5000/ at a time and subject to the concurrence of Executive Committee become a life member.
5.1.3 Honorary members: Women Technical Professionals who have rendered outstanding services in the field of Development shall be confrere with the honorary membership after recommendation by the Executive Committee. The honorary members of the Association will have no voting rights and shall not be members of the Executive Committee.
5.1.4. All members and life members shall be considered as full members.
5.2. Membership fee:
The Annual subscription for a member will be TK.500/. Admission or Re-admission fee will be TK.500/ for members.
5.3. Application for membership:
A person desirous of becoming a member of WAEPA, Bangladesh shall apply in a prescribed form and shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another member, all of who shall be members. The acceptance of the application is subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
5.4. Rights of members:
A member shall enjoy all rights and privileges following this constitution. A member shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Association, both business and technical, present technical papers, and participate in deliberations at these meetings. A member, except honorary members, shall be eligible for election, propose and support the candidate for an office in the Association and vote in the election of office bearers and in deciding policy issues if all the dues and fees are clear. A member shall abide by the rules, regulations, and by-laws of the Association.
5.6. Cancellation/ Suspension of membership
5.6.1. Violation of one or more of the rules, regulations, and by-laws shall cause a member to lose her membership of the Association. According to clause 10.4.
5.6.2, A member wishing to resign from the Association shall apply to General Secretary in writing. The resignation shall become effective on acceptance by the Executive Committee.
5.6.3. A member shall pay and clear all dues and fees to execute the right to vote and other facilities provided by the Association. If a member fails to pay dues to the Association for 3 consecutive years she will be considered as a suspended member and her voting right will be ceased, she will also cease to receive all facilities of the Association.
5.6.4. A person whose membership is suspended from the Association for non-payment of dues shall be eligible for re-admission on payment of all arrear dues and the usual re-admission fees if the period of suspension does not exceed 2 years.
5.6.5. If a member of the Executive Committee is absent in three consecutive meetings without written notice or previous intimation to the General Secretary of the Association the members of the concerned person will be given notice according to the decision of the Executive Committee.
Article 6.0. The General Body of the Association
6.1. The Association:
The Association shall consist of the General Body, the Executive body, and an Advisory body. The function of the Association shall be carried out at the central level through:
6.1.1. Meeting of the Executive Committee
6.1.2 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the
Association
6.1.3. Periodic technical meetings, workshop, seminars, and exhibitions
6.1.4. Publication of monograph, proceedings, extension bulletins newsletter, and contributions to mass media.
6.2. The General Body:
The general body of the Association shall consist of all WAEPA members. It should be the learned body. The General body would meet to perform the following functions:
a). to elect members of the Executive Committee who will set policies and programs
of the Association.
b). to consider and confirm the annual report, budget, and statements of accounts of the Association.
c). to raise any important issue concerning the programs and policies of the Association with the previous intimation to the President/ General Secretary.
d). to consider and confirm any matter brought before it by the E.C.
Article 7.0. The Executive Committee
7.1 The Executive Body:
The Executive Committee shall be the executive body of the Association. Its terms of office shall be for a period of 2 calendar years. The member of the Executive body shall be elected from among the full members of the Association by direct voting of the members following this constitution. Selection shall be considered in case of
unavailability of candidates for election.
7.1.1. Composition of the Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall consist of twenty-one members including the office bearers as shown below:
I) President | 01 (One) (Architect/ Engineer/ Planner) |
ii) Vice-President | 03 (Three) (1 Architect, 1 Engineer, and 1 Planner) |
iii) General Secretary | 01 (One) (Architect/ Engineer/ planner) |
iv) Joint Secretary | 03 (Three) (1 Architect, 1 Engineer, and 1Planner) |
v) Treasurer | 01 (One) (Architect/ Engineer/ Planner) |
vi) Members | 12 (Twelve) (4 Architects, 4 Engineers, and 4 Planner) (including ex-officio past president) |
Total: | Total: 21 (Twenty-one) |
7.1.2. Adviser: There will be 4 (four) Advisers in the Advisory Body of the Association.
Advisers will be selected from the past president of WAEPA, Bangladesh, and well-reputed persons of four different disciplines such as Architecture, Engineering, Planning, and Legal Aids.
7.2. Duties and Responsibilities of the office bearers of the Executive Committee
7.2.1. President:
(a) President, as the constitutional head of the Association, will have overall responsibility for the conduct of the Association’s affairs.
(b) President shall preside over a meeting at Executive Committee, Annual General Meeting, and Extra-ordinary General Meeting of the Association.
(c) President shall have the power to convene an emergency meeting of the E.C.
(d) In case of emergency, the president may in consultation with at least other members of the Executive Committee take an action, which in her opinion and good faith may facilitate the attainment of the objective (s) of the Association. She shall however report the same within 15 days to a regular meeting of the E. C.
7.2.2. Vice- President (V.P):
- a) The Vice – president shall aid and assist the president, exercise all power of the president in her absence.
7.2.3. General Secretary (G.S):
- a) The GS shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association, be responsible to the
Executive Committee for implementing the various duties of the E.C be accountable to the Committee for her actions and shall work in consultation with the president.
- b) She shall prepare notices for all meetings of the E. C of the General body for issue under the signature of the president and shall keep records of the proceedings of these meetings.
- c) She shall prepare the Annual Report of the Association in consultation with the president and arrange for this report to be endorsed by E. C. for presentation to an AGM of the Association.
- d) She shall supervise and guide the staff employed by the Association.
- e) GS shall be responsible for the proper utilization of funds for the programs and projects of the Association to guide the treasurer.
7.2.3. Joint Secretary (JS)
- a) JS shall assist the GS in the implementation of the decisions of the E.C.
- b) The JS shall exercise the powers of GS in absence of GS.
7.2.5. Treasurer:
- a) The treasurer shall assist the GS in the preparation of the Budget.
- b) The treasurer shall keep the accounts of the Association and maintain necessary books and records of all transactions of and on behalf of the Association.
- c) The treasurer and GS shall jointly make payment on behalf of the Association following the approved budget, on the authority of the E.C, and per the Financial Rules of the Association.
- d) If the post of Treasurer falls vacant, the E.C will appoint a new Treasurer from amongst the members of the E.C.
- e) The treasurer shall prepare the financial report of the Association to arrange for it to be audited by the auditors.
7.3. Power and Function have the Executive Committee
7.3.1. The administration and management of all affairs of the Association shall be vested in The Executive Committee.
7.3.2. The EC shall initiate and implement the programs and activities to be undertaken by the Association and raise funds for the purpose and prepare the budget for the following year.
7.3.3. The Executive Committee will appoint all employees of the Association and regulate their remuneration and service conditions.
7.3.4. It will sanction all expenditures of the Association.
7.3.5. To maintain its full strength the EC shall be authorized to co-opt members of the Executive Committee if any position falls vacant.
7.3.6. Sub-Committee: The EC shall form sub-committees as and when necessary. All such sub-committees shall have a convener from the Executive Committee. The tenure of such sub-committees shall terminate on the completion of their mandate. The President and General Secretary will be the ex-officio (automatically designated) members of all and each committee.
7.3.7. Rules and Bye-Laws: The Executive Committee is empowered to frame rules and bye-laws for running the Association in conformity with this constitution. These rules and bye-laws would have to be formally ratified in the next AGM.
7.4. Executive Committee Meetings:
- a) The EC shall meet as often as necessary, at least once in two months.
- b) The General Secretary with the approval of the President shall convene all meetings of the EC.
- c) Seven days notice shall be given for an ordinary meeting of the EC shorter notice may be given for emergency meetings of the EC.
- d) One-third of the members of the EC shall form the quorum.
- e) The president of the Association shall preside over all meetings of the EC. In her
absence, the vice-president shall preside. In the absence of the vice-president, the
members shall elect a president for the meeting.
- f) In case of difference of opinion the president of the meeting has the casting vote.
- g) GS shall keep the minutes of the EC meetings.
- h) Extraordinary meetings of the EC may be called by the president, at the written request of not less than one-third of the members.
- i) Any office bearer shall be liable to deceive notice from the Executive Committee office if she shall be absent from three consecutive meetings of the EC without intimation to the President/Secretary/Office.
- j) The EC shall have the power to frame Bye-Laws and rules not inconsistent with the
provisions of the constitution on all matters relating to the administration and
management of affairs of the Association, subject to the approval of the General Body.
8.0. General Meeting
8.1. Annual General Meeting:
8.1.1. Annual General Meeting should be held every year where the Executive Committee will present the annual report on its activities and financial matters. At least four weeks’ notice will be served for Annual General Meetings.
One-third of the total full members (who have cleared their fees/ subscription and excluding those members who may be away from Dhaka for a stay exceeding four months) will form a quorum of an Annual General Meeting.
8.1.2. In case of difference of opinion simple majority by vote shall decide all issues.
8.1.3. The President of the meeting having a casting vote The General Secretary shall be
responsible for helping with the minutes of all meetings.
8.1.4. The minutes of the General Meeting shall be circulated to all members of the Association.
8.1.5. Requisition meeting may be called if and when necessary at the written request of two-thirds of the members.
8.2. Biennial General Meeting:
A Biennial General Meetings shall be held once every two years at such time and place as may be determined by the Executive Committee for conducting the election.
8.3. Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM)
General Secretary in consultation with the president on the recommendation of the E C will holdEGM; at least 7 days notice is required for EGM. One-third of the total member shall form a quorum of the EGM.
8.4. Quorum of the Meeting
No business shall be transacted at any Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting unless a quorum of members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. One-third of the member having the right to vote shall form the quorum for any meeting.
8.4.1. Lack of Quorum in AGM or EGM
In the event of lack of quorum in the AGM or EGM within 60 minutes of the scheduled time, the meeting would be automatically adjourned. The meeting shall take place after 14 (fourteen) days at the same time in the same venue and no quorum would be necessary for the adjourned meeting.
Article 9.0. Finance and Accounts
9.1. Funds:
The funds of the Association shall consist of:
- a) Membership fee/ subscription;
- b) Donation and contributions;
- c) Funds received for projects undertaken.
All funds shall be utilized for the promotion of the objectives of the Association undertaken per the spirit of the constitution. Separate funds may be created for Special Projects.
9.2. Accounts
9.2.1. The Treasurer shall be responsible to the Executive Committee for the custody,
disbursements, and accounting of all funds belonging to the Association.
9.2.2. Bank Account: The funds of the Association shall be deposited in a joint account with any Nationalized or Government bank (s) in Bangladesh. The bank account of the Association will be operated by any two signatories of the following: the President the General Secretary and the Treasure.
9.2.3. Withdrawals: All withdrawals from the Association’s bank accounts shall be utilizing a cheque signed by any two signatories of the following: the president, the General Secretary, and the treasurer.
9.2 4. The President of the Association shall be empowered to spend a maximum of taka 1000 (one thousand) without the prior approval of the Executive Committee under compulsion to ratify the cause and amount of expenditure at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.
9.2. 5. Audit: Accounts of the Association shall be audited every year by Auditors. The
The treasurer would maintain books of accounts and the auditors shall prepare a” balance sheet” with the assistance Treasurer and General Secretary.
The Treasurer would submit an audited report on the finance of the Association to the Executive Committee for approval at least four weeks before the AGM for the presentation at the Annual General Meeting. This report shall be circulated to members of the association for adoption.
Article 10.0. Election of the Executive Committee
10.1. Procedure of Election:
10.1.1. Election of the 21(twenty-one) members of the Executive Committee shall take place every two years at the Biennial General Meeting by secret ballots.
10.1.2. Election to the different posts in the Executive Committee shall be by individual posts.
10.1.3. Members of WAEPA, Bangladesh who is eligible for vote shall cast one vote for each post being contested
10.1.4. In the event of a tie in any post the chairman of the election commission shall select one member by tossing by lot.
10.1.5. The Election proceedings shall be the last item on the agenda of the Biennial General Meeting and no other business can be transacted after the Elections; the election results shall be announced by Election Commission.
10.1.6. The out-going Executive Committee will hand overcharges to the newly elected
Executive Committee within 15 (fifteen) days from the announcement of the Election
Immediately after the elections
10.2. Election Commission.
10.2.1. The Executive Committee shall nominate 5 (five) member Election Commission one of whom will be designated as Chairman of the Commission. The Election Commission will be formed at least 30 days before the election. The Commission shall publish the voter’s list conduct the election, declare the results of the election, and shall take all other necessary measures as per Rules and Regulations of WAEPA, Bangladesh
10.2.2. The Election Commission shall act in close collaboration with the Executive Committee of WAEPA, Bangladesh.
10.2.3. None of the members of the Election Commission can contest for any post in the
Executive Committee but they have the right to vote.
10.3. Candidature of Member:
10.3.1. Any candidate for membership in the Executive Committee shall be proposed by a member of WAEPA, Bangladesh having the right to vote shall be seconded by a member having the right to vote and she shall also have to express her willingness in writing in the prescribed form to accept the candidature for membership in the Executive Committee. Notice of candidate duly proposed and seconded shall be handed over to the Chairman of the Election Commission at least 7 (seven) days before the Biennial General Meeting. Any candidate may withdraw her candidature at least 10 (ten) days before the date of Election.
10.3.2. The Election Commission shall publish a list of eligible candidates 7(seven) days before the Biennial General Meeting.
10.3.3. The Election Commission shall publish a list of eligible voters at least 7 (seven) days before the fixed date of the Biennial General Meeting.
10.4. Rules and Regulations:
10.4.1. No Executive Committee member can hold the same position for two consecutive terms by-election but can seek re-election for another post. Past presidents shall automatically be ex-official members for the next Executive Committee.
10.4..2. Members who have paid fees regularly not a defaulter are eligible to contest for any one position to the Executive Committee of WAEPA, Bangladesh.
10.4.3. All WAEPA members will abide by the Constitution, otherwise will receive notice from the Executive Committee.
Article 11.0. Amendments to the Constitution
11.1. The Association shall have the power to amend, alter or modify any existing
Provision/provisions made and shall be adding a new provision to the constitution as and when it is necessary and approved that in the Annual General Meeting of the Association with prior notice of not less than 14 (fourteen) days to all full members.
11.2. The quorum for any such meeting for amendment shall be one-third of the full members of the Association.
11.3. Every amendment must have the support of one-third of the members present.
11.4. Extraordinary meeting for amendment may be convened in the Association’s interest as and when necessary. On such occasions, the procedure mentioned above shall apply.
Article 12.0. Dissolution of the Association
The Association may be dissolved by a two-thirds majority of members in an Extraordinary General Meeting exclusively convened for the purpose.
Upon proper and legal dissolution all net assets of the Association shall be vested on any welfare organization. After disposal of any dues and outstanding loans, salaries, and other expenditure and financial obligations to any person, organization, etc.
Article 13.0. Seal
The Executive Committee shall provide a common seal for the Association and shall have the power to destroy the same and substitute it with a new seal from time to time. The seal shall never be used except by or under the authority of the Executive Committee. The president of General Secretary and Treasurer of the Executive Committee shall sign every instrument in which the seal of the Association is affixed in her presence.