NGO and Charity Registration Process in Bangladesh

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Table of Contents

Introduction to the NGO and Charity Registration Process in Bangladesh:

Many local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) labor tirelessly in Bangladesh to achieve their noble goals in a variety of fields. Many global and national charitable organizations frequently inquire about the registration process for NGOs or charitable organizations. This page discusses the registration procedures for various types of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh.

Types of NGOs:

International NGO
National NGO

NGO Registration:

NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB): An international organization registered outside of Bangladesh must be registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) before it can function in Bangladesh. Furthermore, for an International NGO or charity to collect funds from overseas organizations or institutions, registration with NGOAB is required.

NGO and Charity Registration Procedure:

Step 1:

Submit an application to the NGOAB

Step 02:

Use the required format, FD -1 Form.

Step 03:

Submit Required Documents with FD-1 Form

Step 04:

Pay government fees such as Treasury challans, VAT, and so on.

Step 05:

Application is sent to Ministries

Step 06:

A security check is performed by a law enforcement agency, such as the Special Branch of Police or National Security Intelligence, among others.

Step 07:

The Ministry inspects, monitors, and reviews the NGO.

Step 08:

Final review and scrutiny by the NGOAB, followed by the granting of a letter of registration to operate in Bangladesh.

Step 9:

Although the registration process is officially claimed to take 90 working days, the full procedure may take 6-7 months in practice.

Registration and Renewal have a time limit:

The operational permit for an International NGO is valid for the following ten years, however the documentation must be resubmitted within six months of the expiration date to renew the period for operation in Bangladesh.

Option to operate without being registered:

If an international NGO or charity has not yet been established under NGOAB, there is another route for it to function in this country, which is to collaborate with an international organization that has already been officially registered under the aforementioned Act in Bangladesh. Working under the banner of a larger organization, for example, with or without the related service costs by adhering to the partner organization’s policy, and so on.

Process of National NGO Registration:

NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB): In addition to registering with various departments, such as the Department of Social Services, Microcredit Regulatory Authorities, the Department of Women Affairs, the Bangladesh Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, and so on, local NGOs in Bangladesh must also register with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) in order to receive donations from abroad, i.e. foreign organizations or institutions.

The Registration Procedure:

The process of registering a Local NGO is similar to that of registering an International NGO, as previously explained.

MRA (Microcredit Regulatory Authority):

The Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA) is the approved central agency in charge of promoting and fostering the microfinance industry, as well as regulating, monitoring, and supervising the microfinance operations of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh. According to the Microfinance Regulatory Act of 2006, duly registered organizations under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, the Trust Act of 1882, the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance of 1961, the Cooperative Societies Act of 2001, and the Company Act of 1994 can apply to the Microcredit Regulatory Authority for a license to operate a micro-credit program.

Concerning Legislation:

2006 Microfinance Regulatory Act
Microcredit Regulations, 2010.

The Registration Procedure:

Step 01: Submit an application to the authority using the appropriate ‘Annexure A’ form.
Step 02: Submit all required documentation, including ‘Annexure A’.
Step 03: The Authority will review the application information and, if satisfied, will require payment of the License Fee.
Step 04: The Authority will issue the license after receiving the licensing fee from the applicant; however, if the application is rejected, the Authority will notify the applicant in writing within thirty days.

DSS (Department of Social Services):

An NGO or charity can be registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare’s Department of Social Services (DSS). Registration, however, is only required for organizations that will provide welfare services to children, youth, women, families, physically or mentally handicapped, family planning, recreation, civic responsibility, released prisoners, juvenile delinquents, socially handicapped, beggars and the destitute, patients, the elderly or infirm, social work, or coordination of social welfare agencies.

The Registration Procedure:

Step 01: Obtaining name clearance from the appropriate office.
Step 02: Submit an application for registration to the authority using ‘Form-B’.
Step 03: Submit relevant documents along with ‘Form-B’.
Step 04: Pay government fees such as Treasury challans, VAT, and so on.
Step 05: Application is forwarded to the appropriate Ministries.
Step 06: A security check is performed by a law enforcement agency, such as the Special Branch of Police or National Security Intelligence, among others.
Step 07: The Ministry inspects, monitors, and reviews the NGO.
Step 08: Review and final examination by the DSS, followed by registration issuance if satisfied.
Step 09: The registration process through the Department of Social Services may take 5-7 months, depending on the conditions.

DWA (Department of Women’s Affairs):

An organization that wants to work for the welfare of women and children can register with the Department of Women’s Affairs (DWA), which is part of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. It has a similar organizational structure to the Department of Social Services (DSS).

Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, and accompanying Rules, 1962.

The Registration Procedure:

The registration process is nearly identical to that of the Department of Social Services, as detailed above under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961 & associated Rules, 1962.

RJSC (Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms):

An NGO or charity can be established with the Ministry of Commerce’s Bangladesh Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, and the vast majority of non-profit organizations in Bangladesh have been formed and registered under this broad scope and flexibility to allow for a wide range of operations.

Concerning Legislation:

The Societies Registration Act of 1860
Companies Act of 1994.

The following steps are included in the registration process under the Societies Registration Act:

Seven or more people affiliated with a literary, scientific, charitable, or other similar purpose may apply to the Bangladesh Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms to form a society by subscribing to its memorandum of association, which must be accompanied by the society’s rules and regulations.

Step 01:

RJSC issues a name clearance.