334 NGOs shut in four months Corruption, misuse of foreign funds, patronisation of militancy alleged
Thursday, August 5, 2010Front Page
334 NGOs shut in four months
Corruption, misuse of foreign funds, patronisation of militancy alleged
Alpha Arzu
The government cancelled registration of 334 non-government organisations (NGOs) in the last four months for their involvement in corruption, misuse of foreign funds and patronisation of militancy.
The NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) launched a stringent drive to clean up the sector and seized moveable and non-moveable property of these organisations, which were operating in the name of social welfare, charity and volunteerism.
The move is significant as NGOAB had cancelled only 56 foreign-funded NGOs in the last two decades since 1990.
The bureau cancelled the registration in April, May, June, July and August-2, after a series of probes into violation of rules and laws to run foreign-funded projects in the country.
An official at the NGOAB told The Daily Star, "We could not give you details of the cause of cancelling the NGOs' registration as the offences vary from organisation to organisation."
Speaking anonymously, an NGOAB director said some organisations were supposed to run their activities in orphanages and religious places. But the intelligence agencies and NGOAB investigators did not find any such activities and feared that those NGOs were involved in militant activities.
The director added some NGOs were also involved in various kinds of corruption including recruitment of consultants and higher officials, and nepotism in appointment and governing body formation.
"Some also brought foreign funds showing a project which was really not being implemented in the grassroots level. They only ran some small-scale activities to attract donors," he said.
Insiders say the punished NGOs were supposed to submit annual audit reports to the bureau. But the submitted reports were not comprehensive, especially those related to expenditures, and no-one could get details of where the money ultimately went.
On June 6, the bureau cancelled registration of Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) for creating chaotic situations in garment industry. The organisation started functioning in 2004 to run two day care centres for working mothers in Badda and Khilgaon.
The project was completed in 2006 but the organisation started two branch offices in Gazirchat in Savar and Ashulia by taking foreign donation without NGOAB's permission.
Investigators found that BCWS was involved in creating instability among garment workers in Narayanganj, Savar, Gazipur and Ashulia.
NGOAB Director (registration) AM Saiful Hasan ordered the Dhaka district administration to seize the moveable and unmovable property of BCWS and froze its bank account.
Officials say the bureau's mechanism to monitor expenditures of foreign donation is virtually dysfunctional.
One of the three directors of the bureau cited shortage of manpower, lack of accountability of the field administration, and underhand dealings between NGOAB officials and NGO executives as major reasons for misappropriation of funds.
The bureau initiated to shut down these NGOs registration after getting allegations from project areas, beneficiaries and even NGO insiders. Most of NGOs were found with financial indiscipline and contradiction in managing boards, which mainly comprised with family members.
Other cancelled NGOs include the Center for Development Initiative (CDI), Center for Social Development, Bangladesh Palli Unnayan Sangstha, Center for Community Development, Anjuman-E-Ittehad Bangladesh, Bangladesh Private Medical Practitioners Association, Association for Integrated Development (AID), Shishu Bikash Kendra, Association for Social Development Organization (ASDO), Hillary Foundation Bangladesh, Center for Ethnic Children, and Center for Rural and Social Development.
More NGOs are likely to face the same fate, as the bureau will continue its drive, insiders add.
Source:
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=149474"
334 NGOs shut in four months
Corruption, misuse of foreign funds, patronisation of militancy alleged
Alpha Arzu
The government cancelled registration of 334 non-government organisations (NGOs) in the last four months for their involvement in corruption, misuse of foreign funds and patronisation of militancy.
The NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) launched a stringent drive to clean up the sector and seized moveable and non-moveable property of these organisations, which were operating in the name of social welfare, charity and volunteerism.
The move is significant as NGOAB had cancelled only 56 foreign-funded NGOs in the last two decades since 1990.
The bureau cancelled the registration in April, May, June, July and August-2, after a series of probes into violation of rules and laws to run foreign-funded projects in the country.
An official at the NGOAB told The Daily Star, "We could not give you details of the cause of cancelling the NGOs' registration as the offences vary from organisation to organisation."
Speaking anonymously, an NGOAB director said some organisations were supposed to run their activities in orphanages and religious places. But the intelligence agencies and NGOAB investigators did not find any such activities and feared that those NGOs were involved in militant activities.
The director added some NGOs were also involved in various kinds of corruption including recruitment of consultants and higher officials, and nepotism in appointment and governing body formation.
"Some also brought foreign funds showing a project which was really not being implemented in the grassroots level. They only ran some small-scale activities to attract donors," he said.
Insiders say the punished NGOs were supposed to submit annual audit reports to the bureau. But the submitted reports were not comprehensive, especially those related to expenditures, and no-one could get details of where the money ultimately went.
On June 6, the bureau cancelled registration of Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) for creating chaotic situations in garment industry. The organisation started functioning in 2004 to run two day care centres for working mothers in Badda and Khilgaon.
The project was completed in 2006 but the organisation started two branch offices in Gazirchat in Savar and Ashulia by taking foreign donation without NGOAB's permission.
Investigators found that BCWS was involved in creating instability among garment workers in Narayanganj, Savar, Gazipur and Ashulia.
NGOAB Director (registration) AM Saiful Hasan ordered the Dhaka district administration to seize the moveable and unmovable property of BCWS and froze its bank account.
Officials say the bureau's mechanism to monitor expenditures of foreign donation is virtually dysfunctional.
One of the three directors of the bureau cited shortage of manpower, lack of accountability of the field administration, and underhand dealings between NGOAB officials and NGO executives as major reasons for misappropriation of funds.
The bureau initiated to shut down these NGOs registration after getting allegations from project areas, beneficiaries and even NGO insiders. Most of NGOs were found with financial indiscipline and contradiction in managing boards, which mainly comprised with family members.
Other cancelled NGOs include the Center for Development Initiative (CDI), Center for Social Development, Bangladesh Palli Unnayan Sangstha, Center for Community Development, Anjuman-E-Ittehad Bangladesh, Bangladesh Private Medical Practitioners Association, Association for Integrated Development (AID), Shishu Bikash Kendra, Association for Social Development Organization (ASDO), Hillary Foundation Bangladesh, Center for Ethnic Children, and Center for Rural and Social Development.
More NGOs are likely to face the same fate, as the bureau will continue its drive, insiders add.
Source:
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=149474"
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