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Download PDF Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has termed the NGOs of the country a mid-level corrupt sector and recommended forming an independent NGO commission to oversee their activities.
In a study titled ‘Problems in good governance in the NGO sector: The way forward’ released yesterday, the TIB noted lack of transparency and accountability in the sector as well as serious irregularities in their dealings.
TIB Research Officer Sadhan Kumar Das presented the study at a discussion at Cirdap auditorium in the capital. TIB Trustee Board Chairman Professor Muzaffer Ahmad presided over the discussion.
The study took into account the activities of 20 NGOs operating in different districts in six divisions in the country. Of them, one is an international NGO, eight are national NGOs and 11 are local NGOs.
The study observed that many NGOs are registered with the government in exchange of bribes and some of those have existence only in paper and the government officials assist them in the process.
The NGO Affairs Bureau Director Salauddin Ali present at the meting, however, disagreed with the study insisting that these are “sweeping allegations,” adding that allegations should be specific, if any.
The range of corruption, however, could not be assessed as the NGOs did not provide TIB with adequate information and the NGO chiefs did not cooperate properly, the study said.
“Due to lack of transparency and autocratic attitude of the NGO chiefs, an environment is created where corrupt practices become obvious. They are not accountable to the beneficiaries, rather to the donors,” TIB Trustee Board Chairman Professor Muzaffer Ahmad said.
Noting that access to information from the NGOs was very difficult, Professor Muzaffer said that those who had information were not willing to talk or said that they did not have time.
A kind of centralisation has been found in the sector where the donors maintain relationships with the big NGOs, which are to assist the small ones. There are only a few NGOs that receive 90 percent of the resources from the donors, Professor Muzaffer said.
“We have to think how far this practice of corporate NGOs is justified,” TIB Trustee Board chairman said cautioning that involving politics with rights-based activities of the NGOs may bring about dangerous result.
The study found that NGO activities are inflated to the donors to bring money for addressing problems that are actually ‘artificial.’ It, however, acknowledged the NGOs’ contribution in socio-economic development of the country.
Sadhan Kumar Das said due to weak institutional framework, the NGO Affairs Bureau cannot monitor the NGOs’ activities, while the NGOs give more than enough gifts to the donors to satisfy them and cover up their irregularities.
“There are also some ‘well-trained’ beneficiaries who always speak of the positive aspects of the NGOs every time the donors go for field visits,” he said adding that many a time, same NGO gets fund from different donors, as there is no coordination among the donors.
The study found that in 85 percent NGOs, the members of the governing body are relatives of the governing body executive chairman. Besides, 90 percent NGOs appoint familiar auditors for auditing with 85 percent NGOs preparing their audit and financial reports with exaggeration.
The procurement process of the NGOs is also not transparent, Sadhan Kumar said adding that fake quotations are collected from the bidder that is pre-selected by the NGO. A fixed percent of money is also collected from the sellers on condition that materials will be bought from him or her, he noted.
The employees of the NGOs are also appointed as per the choices of the NGO boss or recommendations of the influential people, the study said adding that the employees are not paid salaries as per the proposal of the projects or pledged in the advertisements at times.
Retired high officials are appointed who can use their administrative network to gain special facilities from administration.
In addition to forming an independent umbrella body to monitor the NGOs’ activities, the study recommended formulating a guideline for formation of governing bodies, making all information of the NGOs available to stakeholders and holding them accountable to the government, donors and beneficiaries.
Former adviser to a caretaker government M Hafizuddin Khan, Department of Social Services Director Amzad Hossain, Campaign for Popular Education Director Rasheda K Chowdhury, Awami League leader Asaduzzaman Noor spoke at the discussion among others moderated by TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman.
October 11th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
It is good to see the report of the TIB about NGO’s. It is not the seperate planate in Bangladesh. Where Government Machineries are corrupt there what is the logic to find out the sectoral corruption. Is it not clear that all the wings and sectors of the state will be corrupt? Does there any wing can be free from this environment if so then which envionment and wings?
Does it not giving any other clue to the peoples mind that what for we are doing so. Are we aware that we are drinking our own blood to create a blood less body.
Shahidul