Forgery by NGOs

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NEWSPAPERS have carried a good number of reports during the recent days about various acts of forgery by some unscrupulous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Natore. We are really perplexed because the district administration there failed to take any action against such NGOs even after knowing about their 'illegal' activities. As many as 30 fraudulent NGOs in the district misappropriated a huge amount of money. It has been reported that nearly one million people have been swindled out, involving an amount not less than taka five billion in eight north-western districts by these 'fake' NGOs.
Months ago the Natore district administration permitted the establishment of some new NGOs, ignoring public opinion, strongly favouring taking sooner than later into custody those who had earlier hoodwinked people by simply disappearing with their money. The irony is that since the new NGOs were given the 'permission' to operate, two such other organisations, also calling themselves NGOs, vanished after pocketing nearly Tk. 1.7 billion. The question is: despite two probes that were conducted last year revealing gross anomalies in the activities of some NGOs, how can the authorities adopt a laid-back attitude towards new NGOs?
The Natore administration must not only explain its failure to do its job but also ensure that they would be very cautious in the future about these organisations. At the same time, it should be the responsibility of the coordinating body of the NGOs to have its own supervisory or investigative mechanism in place. Because they themselves have to uphold their reputation.
Rezaur Rahman
Kalabagan, Dhaka