Dhaka – The Jatiya Sangsad Wednesday passed the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Bill, 2016’ in an amendment form with a provision for non-government organisations to take prior approval from the NGO Affairs Bureau to undertake any project and implement it with foreign donations.Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, also in charge of the prime minister’s office in parliament, moved the bill in the House for its passage. The bill was passed with voice votes with Deputy Speaker Fazley Rabbi Miah in the chair.
The bill will empower the NGO bureau to inspect, monitor and assess NGO activities.
According to the bill, NGOs receiving foreign funding must register with the Non-Governmental Organisation Affairs Bureau and seek approval for all planned activities before receiving the grant.
The bill has a provision for canceling registration of the NGOs for making malicious and derogatory statements against the constitution and constitutional bodies of the country,subversive activities, terror and militancy financing and patronizing and women and children trafficking.
Earlier on July 25, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law,Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Suranjit Sengupta placed the report on the bill in the Jatiya Sangsad.
The cabinet approved the bill in June 2014.
