NGOs have been instrumental in achieving the Millennium Development Goals 2015, and earning Bangladesh its middle income status, something which the government itself has acknowledged. But a new regulation is restricting NGO activity in a way that is harmful for our future development, especially when we are at such a critical juncture as we gear up for the Sustainable Development Goals 2030; our job now is going to be even harder and we will need more expertise and support from NGOs than before. While it is true that regulation is necessary for any system to function effectively, but the wrong kind of regulation — the kind that borders on censorship and control — will ultimately produce undesirable results. Unfortunately, the 2016 Foreign Donations Act is the wrong kind of regulation; its purpose seems to be to prevent NGOs from working independently in the human rights area. We need NGOs and government to work side by side in our development journey — it is essential for inclusive growth and development, which is the hallmark of the SDGs.

Source: Dhaka Tribune October 26, 2017 21:33 UTC