Leading NGOs and their Networks lodged a formal complaint to the Director-General of the NGO Affairs Bureau on 19 August 2010 against alleged ‘continuous harassment and corruption’ by a section of employees of the Bureau and protested recent physical assault by hired miscreants on a chief executive of an NGO of an outlying district for the latter’s refusal to yield to the pressure of an employee to pay ‘speed money’ for renewal of registration.

In a joint letter signed by, among others, the chief executives of the NGO Federation, Ain O Shalish Kendra, Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Nijera Kori, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), The Hunger Project & Girl Child Advocacy Forum, Credit Development Forum (CDF), International Network of Alternative Financial Institutions (INAFI), Association for Land Reforms and Development (ALRD), Coalition for Urban Poor (CUP), Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BASF), etc the NGO leaders alleged that harassment and inordinate delay in renewing registration and clearing projects have been causing complications in implementation of foreign funded projects. Moreover, they said, the NGO sector is stunned and suffering from a sense of helplessness and insecurity because of the prevailing situation in the Bureau. The NGOs urged upon the Director-General to take appropriate action against the accused and reestablish congenial environment at the Bureau.