Staff Reporter :
National and International Non-government Organizations working in Bangladesh on Sunday urged the President not to sign The Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Bill 2016 as what they said it conflicts with the Constitution.
The NGOs demanded that the government should bring an amendment to some disputed parts of the law, including the Article 14, after holding talks with stakeholders.
The Parliament on Wednesday passed the bill, with a punitive provision making it an offence for foreign-funded NGOs to make “inimical” and “derogatory” remarks on the Constitution and constitutional bodies.
The representatives of the NGOs expressed their grave concern over the bill in a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, saying that it would create a scope for limiting fundamental rights, including freedom of expression. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Chairperson Sultana Kamal
told the media briefing that: “It will create a scope for limiting fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, though conscience and freedom of oraganisation safeguarded by the Constitution.”
She alleged that though the President of the Parliamentary body on Law and Parliamentary Affairs mentioned about the possibility of including such provisions in mass media, no such proposals were raised or discussed during meetings between the representatives and the committees.
Sultana Kamal said, “Such unexpected addition to the law with public importance is contrary to democratic thinking and practice.”
“It is totally unacceptable to private organisations. We condemn it strongly and humbly and urge the Honourable President not to give his consent on the bill,” the TIB Chief said.
TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Nijera Kori Co-ordinator Khushi Kabir and BELA Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan, among others, were present.
National and International Non-government Organizations working in Bangladesh on Sunday urged the President not to sign The Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Bill 2016 as what they said it conflicts with the Constitution.
The NGOs demanded that the government should bring an amendment to some disputed parts of the law, including the Article 14, after holding talks with stakeholders.
The Parliament on Wednesday passed the bill, with a punitive provision making it an offence for foreign-funded NGOs to make “inimical” and “derogatory” remarks on the Constitution and constitutional bodies.
The representatives of the NGOs expressed their grave concern over the bill in a press conference at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, saying that it would create a scope for limiting fundamental rights, including freedom of expression. Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Chairperson Sultana Kamal
told the media briefing that: “It will create a scope for limiting fundamental rights, including freedom of speech, though conscience and freedom of oraganisation safeguarded by the Constitution.”
She alleged that though the President of the Parliamentary body on Law and Parliamentary Affairs mentioned about the possibility of including such provisions in mass media, no such proposals were raised or discussed during meetings between the representatives and the committees.
Sultana Kamal said, “Such unexpected addition to the law with public importance is contrary to democratic thinking and practice.”
“It is totally unacceptable to private organisations. We condemn it strongly and humbly and urge the Honourable President not to give his consent on the bill,” the TIB Chief said.
TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, Nijera Kori Co-ordinator Khushi Kabir and BELA Chief Executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan, among others, were present.
