Finance Minister AMA Muhith Saturday said the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have lost the spirit of volunteerism in their activities and become the mere providers of 'NGO service'.
"In our country, historically, the NGOs had been involved in voluntary services. But that is no more found at present. Now most of them have become providers of services that are not 100 per cent voluntary," he said at a programme, where Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman was also critical of the style of NGOs' functioning.
The finance minister was speaking as chief guest at the celebration of 15 years of the Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB) at the LGED auditorium at Agargaon in the city.
Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman was present as the special guest at the function, chaired by VAB advisory board chairman Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury.
At the VAB-organised programme, best students, teachers and staff members received awards.
The finance minister said voluntary service was mostly a social matter. But some organisations which do voluntary work have started taking endowment fund. This is good for their sustainability but it hinders the true spirit of volunteerism, he noted.
"Many people now call it corporate social responsibility (CSR)," Mr Muhith said.
The minister observed it cannot be said today how the generations after 100 years would evaluate the activities of the NGOs of the present times.
In his speech, Dr Atiur Rahman said today's new-generation zaminders (land lords) have not been contributing their due portion for social development.
Referring to his school where he studied, the governor said it was donated by a zaminder.
"From the Bangladesh Bank (BB) we are ensuring contribution from the new zaminders to the social sectors through CSR. One-third of the total CSR funds of the banks has to be spent on education sector," said the governor.
He said the whole burden of education sector should not be left to the government. Government's expenditure in education sector is quite poor which should be increased.
"It is much lower than that in the neighbouring countries which allocate the highest for the quality development of education," he added.
The governor noted that, in today's world, there is hard competition in academic circle. If Bangladesh wants to survive the competition, it must develop the quality of education with the help of private and individual organisations.
Jamilur Reza Chowdhury spoke of different problems in different stages of education, stressing the need for qualitative improvement of schooling.
"The millennium development goal (MDG) target from the quantitative aspect has been achieved in primary education although quality is a big question. Now we have to focus on secondary education," he said.
He reminded all of an alarming decrease in the percentage of science students. The number of science students in SSC slid down to 20 per cent from the previous 40 per cent. It has slightly improved in last couple of years, though, he said.
The noted architect of the country said the Bangladeshi students still have weaknesses in science, information technology, English and Math.
Founder and president of VAB AT Rafiqur Rahman and country director Prof Jasimuz Zaman also spoke, among others, on the occasion.
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