President urged not to approve bill on foreign-funded NGOs
National and international non-government organisations today urged the president not to give his consent to The Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Bill 2016 as what they said it conflicts with the constitution.
The Jatiya Sangsad on Wednesday passed the bill, introducing a punitive provision making it an offence for foreign-funded NGOs to make "inimical" and "derogatory" remarks on the constitution and constitutional bodies.
They demanded that the government should bring an amendment to the law after holding talks with NGO representatives and stakeholders.
The representatives of the NGOs also expressed a grave concern over the bill in a press note saying that it will create a scope for limiting fundamental rights including freedom of speech, thought, conscience and oraganisation safeguarded by the constitution.
Though the president of the parliamentary body on law and parliamentary affairs mentioned about the possibility of including such provisions in mass media, no such proposals were raised or discussed during meetings between the representatives and the committees, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Chairperson Sultana Kamal alleged while addressing a press briefing at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU).
Such unexpected addition to the law with public importance is contrary to democratic thinking and practice, the TIB chief said adding that it is totally unacceptable to private organisations.
“We condemn it strongly and humbly and urge the honourable president not to approve the bill,” she said.
According to the bill, if any foreign-funded NGO engages in anti-state activities and finances extremism and terror activities, those would be considered as offences under the provision, and the NGO and its officials concerned would be tried under the country's existing laws.
The new provision empowers the NGO Affairs Bureau to cancel or withhold the registration of a foreign-funded NGO or ban its activities for committing the offence.
Representatives different NGOs including Ain O Salish Kendra, BRAC, Gono Shakkhorota Abhijan, Nijera Kori, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Bangladesh Environment Lawyers Association (Bela), Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB), ActionAid Bangladesh, Concern Worldwide, WaterAid Bangladesh, Oxfam International and CARE Bangladesh were present at the programme.