During the previous Awami League government's tenure, widespread corruption, institutional inefficiency, and the imposition of restrictive policies prevented both domestic and international NGOs from functioning independently.
NGOs are now demanding that the government put an end to corruption in the administrative system.
These issues were raised by NGO leaders on Monday during a meeting with the White Paper Drafting Committee at the NEC conference room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka.
They pointed out that since the country's independence, NGOs have played a significant role in the development process. However, their contributions have gone unrecognized.
Moreover, they often face obstacles from government officials, agencies, and sometimes even government policies while trying to carry out their work.
After the meeting, Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, head of the White Paper Committee, said: "The NGO representatives have mentioned that although they are major contributors to development, they lack representation. As a result, they feel they are being treated unfairly. To save people from the current hardship brought on by inflation, the role of NGOs must be strengthened."
He added: "The NGO representatives have also mentioned that corruption is the biggest obstacle to the effective functioning of private organizations. There are also challenges posed by government institutions. The corruption in DC offices, among government officials, law enforcement agencies, and within the government administration must be eradicated."
The senior economist further said: "If encouragement is not given for any work, that work is not done well. Even though NGOs have made significant contributions to development, they have not been acknowledged for it. As a result, the general public remains unaware of their contributions."
Debapriya said: "In addition, the corruption involved in various government financial services such as digital transactions, allowance distribution, and stipends must be eliminated. In short, the government administration needs to be made transparent, effective, and efficient."
