'Attacks on NGOs'
M Tajul Islam Director, FNB
Mr Firoz Alam, in his article on 'Attacks on NGOs' (The Daily Star, 5 March 2005), has pointed out the role played by the NGOs in the country by "creating a group of critically aware civil society, empowering the women, raising awareness among the community about their rights, and all these activities go against those who prefer ignorance, darkness and exploitation." He has also referred to the problems that the NGOs are faced with following the recent attacks on some of their offices in some parts of the country. But, unfortunately, Mr Alam has made some remarks about the creation of the Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB) without verifying the facts. Without repeating the details of the unfortunate situation leading to the creation of the Federation, it is only pertinent to point out that the leading personalities of the NGO movement in Bangladesh, who were constrained to form FNB, were the pioneers of ADAB in the '70s and they are not with ADAB anymore. FNB was sponsored by the NGOs themselves in the backdrop of the ineffectiveness of ADAB. It was not sponsored by any quarters outside the NGO sector, and it is the unanimous decision of more than 2,000 NGOs of the country, big medium and small, to form such a Federation to protect and safeguard the interest of the NGO community. To name a few, old and large members like BRAC, BELA, CAMPE, Gonoshasthya Kendra, Nijera Kori, RDRS, RIC, SAMATA etc are all with FNB and membership of more such organisations is under process. It is definitely unfair and unkind to try to indicate that leaders of these renowned organisations are the instruments of what Mr Alam said, "The divide and rule approach of the establishment." Leaders of these organisations as also others in FNB are on record as pro-poor, pro-NGO and staunchly independent civil society stalwarts of the country known at home and abroad. Mr Alam's assertion that ADAB and FNB "have taken a face to face position" also does not reflect the reality. ADAB was registered as an 'NGO' whereas FNB is a 'Federation'. FNB's doors are open to ADAB also. As a matter of fact, many of the ADAB members are members of FNB and many of them are programme partners of large NGOs which are members of FNB. It may also be recalled that the press statements of FNB and its leaders repeatedly urged upon the government to refrain from harassing the NGOs and in the process ultimately bring sufferings to the poor and disadvantaged people for whom these NGOs work.
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