Proposed Commission for NGOs
Stakeholders fear disruption of innovative activities
The government's proposed commission to streamline non-government organisations stirred criticism among NGO stakeholders who apprehended that the new move would disrupt their innovative and voluntary activities.
New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), in a September 10 statement, said the government, on August 25, mentioned of launching a commission to look into NGO operations, claiming that many were involved in “terror-financing and other anti-state activities.”
HRW had suggested scrapping the proposed commission and apprehended that the government move would stifle civil society activity.
Though the government stated that the commission would ensure transparency and accountability in the NGO sector, the stakeholders consider the move a way to control their activities.
“It is good to have an institution to regulate the non-state organisations' activities. But if the commission's purpose is to impose too much control on NGOs, it will create a scope for corruption,” said Rasheda K Choudhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education, yesterday.
With different sectors, including banks and the share market, troubled with unbridled corruption, the government should not go for any new move without consultations with the stakeholders who may suffer in future, she told The Daily Star.
NGO Federation of Bangladesh Chairman Tajul Islam told The Daily Star that he heard about the government's plan informally and through the media and none from the government had formally informed the stakeholders.
Refuting the stakeholders' apprehensions, Social Welfare Ministry Secretary Ranjit Kumar Biswas said the plan was still in an embryonic stage.
“There is nothing to control or regulate in the NGOs activities, rather the commission, if formed, will facilitate the NGO activities,” he told The Daily Star.
He said there were currently around 50,000 NGOs operating in the country by obtaining registration from the Ministry of Social Welfare, NGO Affairs Bureau and The Office of the Registrar of the Joint Stock Companies and Firms.
Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau Nurun Nabi Talukder said no discussions were yet held with the government about the formation of the commission.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments