FPAB charter being democratised

FE Team | Published: January 02, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

President of the FPAB Prof Khaleda Khanam addressing a news conference. Nasir Ahmed Babul, honorary secretary general and Dr Matiur Rahman, executive director of the organization also seen.

FE Report
Thanks to firm initiative by its President Professor Khaleda Khanam, the national executive committee of a well-known voluntary organisation Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB) is set to democtratise its constitution.
FPAB officials said in Dhaka on Thursday, the Constitution will be amended with inclusion of some provisions that would make the Association democratic, transparent and accountable in use of foreign funds it receives from various donor agencies.
They said, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), of which the FPAB is a full-fledged member, has mounted pressure on the Association to remove some corrupt officials as well as to democratise its charter so that long-serving members quit giving places to new entrants to give the FPAB much-needed dynamism and new leadership.
A total of 66 national councilors took part in the December 28 annual general meeting for 2014 to amend the Constitution as per a demand of the IPPF which even threatened to cut off its funds for the FPAB. Of the participants, 28 were males, 22 females and 16 youth councilors.
But a few councilors with support from outsiders tried to disrupt the AGM opposing the moce for amendment to the Constitution. As a result, the AGM was adjourned.
Highly-placed sources said, the IPPF and other donors have made it mandatory for the FPAB to amend the charter in order to bring in democracy in its affairs as they said as the Association runs on their financial support, it must move on their wishes only to serve the neglected people of Bangladesh.
Moreover, the donors were irate over rampant corruption that took place in the activities of the FPAB.
Keen observers said, the country cannot go without vital voluntary organisations like FPAB as it is serving the most disadvantaged section of the population for long 61 years.
As a partner organisation of the Bangladesh government, the FPAB has now 35 branch clinics in 32 districts. It has 75 mobile clinics and 1,472 trained field workers involved in activities ranging from family planning to midwifery.
"The FPAB is an organisation for the poor and will continue to remain so in the days ahead, " Khaleda Khanam, former whip of the parliament, told the FE on Thursday. ENDS