NGO affairs bureau holds workshop on revised foreign donations law

The Council of Advisers, chaired by Muhammad Yunus, approved the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 in late November, marking a move towards streamlining foreign donation processes, NGO registration and fund release mechanisms in Bangladesh.

The reform follows long-standing civil society advocacy and a series of policy dialogues held at divisional and national levels under the Institutional Strengthening for Promoting Accelerated Transformation Project (ISPAT), led by the NGO Affairs Bureau in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with support from the Australian High Commission.

To familiarise stakeholders with the revised ordinance, a dissemination workshop was held in Dhaka on 28 December 2025, outlining regulatory changes and practical implications for NGOs.

The workshop brought together representatives from government institutions, development partners, national and international NGOs and civil society organisations. Discussions focused on compliance requirements, digital systems and operational processes related to registration, project approval, fund mobilisation and management, and reporting under the amended ordinance.

Addressing the workshop as the Chief Guest, Md Daud Miah, ndc, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the NGO Affairs Bureau under the Chief Adviser's Office, said the revised ordinance aims to simplify procedures, enhance clarity and strengthen accountability for NGOs operating in Bangladesh. He noted that consultations with NGOs would continue to ensure the subsidiary rules are developed in an inclusive manner.

Md Anwar Hossain, Director (Joint Secretary) of the NGO Affairs Bureau, presented the keynote paper on the revised ordinance, while Azizul Haque Sarder, Project Manager of the ISPAT Project at UNDP, highlighted the project's digital transformation initiatives for the NGO Affairs Bureau.

Anowarul Haq, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP, said non-state actors play an important role in Bangladesh's socio-economic development, stressing the need for transparent and efficient management of foreign donations to support progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. He acknowledged the Australian government's support for the ISPAT partnership.

Among others, Dr K M Mamun Uzzaman, Director (Joint Secretary) of the NGO Affairs Bureau, and Sheela Tasneem Haq, Senior Governance Specialist at UNDP, also spoke at the event.

Organisers said the ISPAT Project reflects a collaborative approach to regulatory reform, bringing together government agencies, development partners, and civil society to create a more enabling regulatory environment for socio-economic development in Bangladesh.