NGO Federation (FNB)

The Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB) is the federation of the NGOs working for the overall socio-economic development of the poor, including handicapped and disadvantaged, poverty alleviation, micro credit, health, family planning, women’s rights, child, female and adult education, ethnic minority, capacity building, disaster management, agricultural development, environment, biodiversity, human rights, good governance, capacity building and so on.

The Federation was formed as a follow up of the decisions of the Second Convention of NGOs held on 23 February 2003 and registered on 04 May 2003 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Small, medium and big NGOs from all districts of the country are members of the NGO Federation (FNB). The reputed member NGOs, among others, are: ALRD, BELA, BRAC, Buro Bangladesh, CAMPE, CDA (Dinajpur), CMES, Codec (Chittagong), DORP, Ghashful (Chittagong), Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK), JCF (Jessore), NGO Forum for DWSS, Nijera Kori, Padakkhep, RDRS, RIC, Samata, SSS (Tangail), Swanirvar Bangladesh, TMSS, VARD.
Accomplishments
w
 Since inception, the notable accomplishments, among others,  relating to protection of interests of the NGO sector, some of  these are as follows:
 
• Initiatives were taken by the Federation to establish by the Government a Foundation for funding the small NGOs. As a result of its constant lobby and advocacy the Government established the Bangladesh NGO Foundation.

• Due to initiatives taken by the Federation the proposed NGO Bill aimed at controlling rather than regulating the activities of the NGOs has been suspended by the Government in the year 2004.

• As a result of Federation’s constant lobby and advocacy the Government through a Gazette Notification, revised the policy relating to obligatory possession of Trade License by all NGOs.

• The NGO Federation ensured its representation in the Government Khas Land Distribution Committee at national, district and upazila levels.

• As requested by the Ministry of Land, Government of Bangladesh the Federation conducted a survey in six upazilas in six divisions of the country on distribution of Government Khas Land and submitted the Survey Report to the Ministry.

• At the initiative and advocacy of the Federation, the Government decided to award annual stipend for disabled children studying in Primary and Secondary High Schools.

• The Federation could ensure construction of ramp attached to the Central Shahid Minar in Dhaka for easing the movement of the physically handicapped who come to pay homage to the language martyrs.

• Due to the initiative taken by the Federation, along with other organizations, the Bangladesh Bank introduced identification dots in the bank notes of Taka ten, twenty, fifty, hundred and five hundred to make the use easy for the visually impaired.

• As a result of the joint effort of CDF, FNB and INAFI, a Policy Framework for involving the commercial banks has been submitted to the Ministry of Finance. This was a follow up of the Bank-NGO-MFI seminar jointly organized by the three networks.

• The system of obtaining Certificate from the district and upazila administration as per rule of the NGO Affairs Bureau was made easier.

• The instruction concerning inclusion of representative/s from NGOAB/local administration in the Recruitment Board of the NGOs (registered under the Bureau) was withdrawn.

• The Ministry of Law exempted the NGOs from its embargo on holding non-political meetings/rallies during State of Emergency.

• The regulation making it mandatory to spend 50% of the foreign grants to an NGO on visible activities such as physical infrastructure building, was withdrawn after a discussion meeting with FNB.

• The Federation, joined by two other networks – CDF and INAFI, conducted hard negotiations with the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) for over two years for revision of the MRA draft Rules which were regarded as detrimental to the interest of the MFIs/NGOs. NGO recommendations with a series of amendments to the draft were submitted to the Chairman of MRA for incorporation/deletion in the draft.
Publications
   

All rights reserved : NGO Federation
Design & Developed by arrowpoint