Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) at a National Convention for localization have demanded recognition as actors in the development of Bangladesh.
Around 700 CSOs and NGOs gathered for their National Convention at Krishibid Institute near Farmgate on Saturday and sought this recognition.
The National Convention, "Accountability and Localization for Humanitarianism and Development with Positive Engagement," was organized by the Bangladesh CSO NGO Coordination Process with the assistance of COAST Trust and supported by Oxfam, said a press release yesterday.
In his speech as chief guest at the inaugural session of the national convention, Dr. Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Chairman of PKSF, said local CSO and NGOs are indispensable to the country's development, reports UNB.
In his concluding speech, former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman highlighted various promising figures of the country and said local NGOs have to complement and collaborate with the government and should be innovative for a new and prosperous Bangladesh.
UN Resident Coordinator Ms Mia Seppo delivered the inauguration speech at the convention.
The national convention was a culmination of the last two years' countrywide process of uniting local CSOs and NGOs for their self-esteem as development actors in the country.
Aroma Dutta MP, Gokul K Ghosh, Director NGO Bureau, Shaheen Anam of Manusher Jonno Foundation, Phedra Moon Morris of the Canadian Embassy, and Ajmat Ulla, IFRC Country Representative, were also present at the daylong convention and spoke in different convention sessions.
There were participating delegates from the ECHO program of the European Union, USAID, DFID, and other donor groups and international NGOs.
Mostafa Kamal Akanda of COAST and Monjur Rashid of Oxfam placed the Charter of Self-Accountability that pledged local NGOs and CSOs will be transparent and accountable to the public and to their values in a rights-based approach.
Barkat Ullah Maruf and Nayeem Warha read out the Charter of Expectations that seeks government recognition of NGO work as development and not to shrink their space by any law or policy as they serve the poorest.
The Charter also said INGOs should be limited only to monitoring and technical assistance instead of direct operations, treating their local partners equally in partnerships.
