We have seen, over the past two decades, NGOs have taken center stage all over the world in matters pertaining to good governance, functioning of democracy, and upholding of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Bangladesh is the land where the world’s leading NGOs are working to achieve several hundred goals including social, economic, political and environmental goals. In our observation, due to lack of transparency and accountability in fund management, action plan and the autocratic attitude of certain NGOs have plumed depression, they are making bad names.
NGOs have supplemented the role of the government on many respects and helped in opening doors and windows all over the country, particularly in the vast rural hinterland. It has helped to empower women and fostered girl child education, non-formal education and vocational training that helped in the growth of skilled population. But the unplanned growth of NGOs has led to duplication of efforts and, sometimes, abuse of resources. Besides, moral integrity and fiscal probity have been sacrificed in the quest for funds and resources that are made available by foreign donors. In this backdrop, Parliament in last October passed the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Bill 2016, but the bill would not bring the NGOs accountable as the intention of the bill was to control the freedom of NGOs and the source of their funding.
The NGOs concerned with human rights violations are critical to the government’s policy and action against the egalitarianism and justice and so also the government is watching them from close distance. Unfortunately, the new law empowers the NGO Affairs Bureau to cancel or withhold the registration of a foreign-funded NGO or ban its activities for committing criticizing the government policy and action.
Wisdom suggests that the government should form an independent commission to look after the NGOs that will help to identify shortcomings and also assist in their removal. This, in turn, will enhance the credibility and sustainability of the NGO sector. However, reform of the NGO sector and improved donor coherence, rigorous systems of accountability and audit of performance will help the NGOs to become accountable.
