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Abstract: Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the state has largely failed to assist the poor or reduce poverty, and NGOs have grown dramatically, ostensibly to fill this gap. There are more and bigger NGOs here than in any country of equivalent size. The target group approach has allowed NGOs in Bangladesh to work successfully with the rural poor and provide inputs to a constituency generally bypassed by the state. Recently, most NGOs in Bangladesh have taken microcredit as their major activity, which has resulted in resistance from some religious leaders and organisations. Charging of interest is forbidden in Islam. NGOs said the fundamentalists had objected to Muslim women going out to work. Other NGO activities like non-formal schools for children and trees planted by NGO clients have also been attacked. This article will inquire into the problems and prospects of Religious NGOs (RNGOs) in Bangladesh in gaining trust, assistance, and financial resources from donors, the state and public. Finally, it will make recommendations for the NGOs, donors and the state to foster mutual co-operation and on ways to make help to the poor people in Bangladesh more effective. RNGOs are: a) organizations which strive for progress of humanity through adherence to the tenets of religion b) more aware of religious sensitivities. That is, the mosques, temples and churches and private individuals who support their NGOs do so for its mission, while the donors of other NGOs want more specific results. 2 Two Buddhist, one Christian, one Hindu and one Islamic NGO were studied for this research. The methods of inquiry were predominantly ethnographic and/or qualitative with limited quantitative work. It included in-depth case studies, structured/semistructured interviews and informal interviews/discussions with selected field workers, NGO managers and clients, religious leaders as well as documentary search. It was found that RNGOs face some common problems. For example, most people were suspicious about the activities of RNGOs. Interestingly, each type of NGO was suspected for different types of reasons. Christian NGOs were suspected of evangelism, Islamic NGOs for promoting terrorism and accused of obstructing the activities of secular/non-religious NGOs who promote greater role for women outside home. A major complaint against the RNGOs was that they target mainly followers of their own faith. Another major complaint against all RNGOs was corruption. Corruption is widespread in the Bangladeshi society and the NGOs too. It seems that the religious missions did not impede these NGOs from getting rid of this evil. One major Western donor of a Buddhist NGO stopped funding because of allegations of corruption against that NGO.

Keywords: Funding; trust; religious NGOs; Bangladesh

Language: English

21 pages, 2004

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RePEc:hhh:senior:2004_012

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