The Roundtable at Gopalganj on 16 February 2011 referred to the ‘paradox’ of continuous migration of people from rural to urban areas despite flow of huge amount of money through microfinance and remittance from abroad into rural economy. The speakers said that in a small and overpopulated country with limited resource like Bangladesh the NGOs can play a leading role in turning the population into human resource. The meeting suggested that the MFIs should closely monitor whether the loan money is utilized for productive purpose. While narrating his experience in a West African country as a member of the UN Peace Keeping Force, the Addl. Superintendent of Police Sardar Rokonuzzaman, said he was struck by the difference between the rural scenario of that country and Bangladesh. In sharp contrast to the poor, ‘moribund’ African villages one could see economic activities all around in Bangladesh rural areas where thousands of crores of money are being circulated every year through microcredit programs. While there was consensus on the positive impact of NGO intervention at the grassroots for national development, the participants were of the opinion that corruption in the society has been severely affecting proper implementation of the NGO programs.The Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Yusuf Harun said the relevant authorities should properly investigate before giving registration to an organization. The NGOs, he suggested, should refrain from providing loan for accident prone vehicle locally known as ‘Nasimon’, the improvised three-wheeler passenger vehicle run by shallow irrigation pump engine.

Earlier, the Federation gave a detailed presentation on the role of the NGO sector in national development, and explained the rate of service charge and the commercial activities of the NGOs. The Mayor of Pourashava Shikdar Rezaul Haq Razu and FNB Board member Azharul Islam were present. The Roundtable is one of the series of such open discussions with cross-section of people organized by the NGO Federation with the financial assistance of the Aga Khan Foundation. Later, the Federation leaders offered fateha at the mazar of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara.