The Rise and Fall of the NGOs in Bangladesh: What Does the Future Hold?

Abstract

This chapter introduces Bangladesh’s national and international NGOs, followed by an evaluation of some leading NGOs’ roles in alleviating poverty of the economically vulnerable population, particularly women and children. The NGOs address these concerns through microcredit programs, nonformal education, and primary healthcare, creating employment opportunities, promoting participation in asset-building, and grassroots advocacy programs as catalysts for policy action. However, recently, NGOs have faced challenges that tend to diminish their role due to donors’ declining funds and growing government restrictions. Therefore, the chapter suggests that NGOs, in their engagement with a leadership position, survive the present economic and political challenges—and continue to help the people left behind and exploited—through social enterprises and more commitment.