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A total of 722 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had their registrations cancelled and operations shut down by the NGO Affairs Bureau between 2009 and 2024 for various reasons, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has told Parliament.
He disclosed the information on Monday (9 November) in a written reply to a question from lawmaker Advocate Md Jalal Uddin during the fourth session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad.
The session was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.
In his reply, the minister said NGOs play an important role alongside the government in improving Bangladesh’s socioeconomic conditions.
Established in 1990 under the Prime Minister’s Office, the NGO Affairs Bureau coordinates voluntary projects funded by foreign donations and implemented by NGOs.
He said NGOs also contribute to the government’s election manifesto and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in poverty alleviation, hunger reduction, public health, quality education, gender equality, climate resilience, prevention of violence against women, safe drinking water and sanitation.
The bureau oversees NGO registration and renewal, project approvals, fund disbursement, and the monitoring and supervision of project implementation.
According to the minister, the 722 NGOs were shut down for various violations.
Major reasons for cancellation included failure to apply for registration renewal within the stipulated timeframe, embezzlement through forged signatures, violations of registration conditions and lawful directives issued by the bureau, and submission of fake or forged letters of intent (LOIs).
