Types of Membership

The Society has Eight (08) categories of membership:

• 1. Founder Member
• 2. Life Member
• 3. General Member
• 4. Donor Member
• 5. Associate / Network Member
• 6. Project Member (Beneficiary)
• 7. Co-opted Executive Committee Member
• 8. Student Member

1. Founder Member

• Members of the first Executive Committee of the Society
• Recognized as founding members
• Rights and responsibilities as defined by the Constitution

2. Life Member

• Any Bangladeshi citizen who donates BDT 100,000
• Lifetime membership
• Selection subject to approval of the Executive Committee
• ❌ No voting rights

3. General Member

Any Bangladeshi citizen, regardless of religion, caste, or creed, may apply for General Membership subject to the following conditions:

Eligibility Criteria

• Must agree to abide by the Memorandum of Association and Constitution
• Must be committed to the welfare and development of audiology and hearing health services
• Must hold recognized academic or professional qualifications or have significant long-term contribution to the profession

Professional Grading Framework

Grade 1 – Audiologist

Professionals holding any of the following qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Audiology
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Hearing & Speech Science
• Doctor of Audiology (AuD)
• PhD in Audiology or related discipline

Grade 2 – Audiometrist

• Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech
• Audiometry Technician Course (ATC) or Diploma in Audiometry
• Minimum 10 years of practical working experience

Grade 3 – Audiometrist

• Diploma in Hearing, Language & Speech
• Audiometry Technician Course (ATC) or Diploma in Audiometry
• Less than 10 years of practical working experience

Special Consideration

• Individuals with 25+ years of professional involvement in audiology or hearing health services in Bangladesh
• Must have made a significant contribution to the establishment and development of the profession

Membership Fees

Rights & Privileges

• ✔ General Members have voting rights
• ✔ Only Grade 1 and Grade 2 General Members are eligible for Executive Committee (EC) positions

Membership Control

• Enrollment and total number of General Members are determined by the Executive Committee, based on organizational capacity and management considerations

4. Donor Member

• Individuals selected by the Executive Committee for financial or material contributions
• Donation amount/type determined by the EC
• ❌ No voting rights

5. Associate / Network Member

• Associations, NGOs, or organizations aligned with the objectives of the Society
• Admission subject to Executive Committee approval
• ❌ No voting rights

6. Project Member (Beneficiary)

• Individuals benefiting from Society projects or programs
• Recognized as beneficiaries only
• ❌ No voting rights

7. Co-opted Executive Committee Member

• Any vacancy in the Executive Committee may be filled from among General Members
• Decision requires majority approval of EC members present in a meeting
• Co-opted members shall hold office until the next EC election

8. Student Member

Student Membership is designed to engage and support students pursuing education in audiology, hearing science, speech-language pathology, and related disciplines.

Eligibility

• Must be a currently enrolled student in a recognized academic institution
• Proof of student status may be required

Benefits

• ✅ Free of cost membership
• 🎟 Special discounted access to Society conferences, seminars, and workshops
• 🎓 Free webinars and online training programs organized by the Society
• 📚 Access to selected learning resources and recorded sessions
• 🧑‍🏫 Participation in career guidance and mentorship sessions
• 🪪 Digital Student Membership ID
• 📜 E-certificates for webinar and training participation
• 📢 Early access to announcements on:
  • Internships
  • Trainings
  • Academic and professional events
• 🤝 Opportunity to work as volunteers in Society programs and events

Limitations

• ❌ No voting rights
• ❌ Not eligible for Executive Committee positions

Membership Validity

• Valid during the period of study
• Student Members may apply for upgrade to General Membership upon completion of academic qualification, subject to eligibility criteria

Executive Committee (EC) Eligibility & Composition

• Only Grade 1 and Grade 2 professionals are eligible for EC membership
• Selection based on:
  • Commitment and willingness to serve
  • Leadership qualities
  • Donor and resource mobilization capacity
  • Communication and rapport-building skills
  • Gender sensitivity and inclusiveness
• Priority for key positions (President, General Secretary, etc.) is given to Grade 1 professionals but elected by Vote.

EC composition: