New Foreign Donation Rules Empower Bangladesh’s NGOs

Streamlining Foreign Funding and Strengthening Accountability through Regulatory Reform

December 29, 2025

Panelists from the Government of Bangladesh, UNDP, and development partners take part in the Dissemination Workshop on the Revised Foreign Donation Regulation Ordinance, 2025, organised under the ISPAT Project in Dhaka.

©UNDP Bangladesh

In late November, the Council of Advisers, chaired by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, approved the draft Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, a major step forward in streamlining foreign donation processes, NGO registration, and fund release in Bangladesh. This landmark reform was driven by the long-standing civil society advocacy and a series of policy dialogues held both at the divisional and national levels under the Institutional Strengthening for Promoting Accelerated Transformation (ISPAT) Project, led by the NGO Affairs Bureau in partnership with UNDP and supported by the Australian High Commission.

To familiarise stakeholders with the new ordinance, a dissemination workshop was held in Dhaka on 28 December 2025, highlighting the regulatory updates and their practical implications for NGOs.

The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders from government institutions, development partners, national and international NGOs, and civil society organisations to discuss the ordinance’s implications, clarify compliance requirements, and explore the new digital systems. Participants engaged in interactive sessions on registration, project approval, fund mobilisation and management, and reporting, with a focus on aligning internal policies with the revised ordinance.

Delivering his remarks as the chief guest, Md. Daud Miah ndc, Director General (Additional Secretary), NGO Affairs Bureau, Chief Adviser’s Office, said, “The revised Ordinance is designed to streamline processes, improve clarity, and strengthen accountability for NGOs operating in Bangladesh. As we move forward, we remain committed to ongoing consultations with NGOs to ensure that the subsidiary rules are developed in a participatory and inclusive manner.”

Md. Anwar Hossain, Director (Joint Secretary), NGO Affairs Bureau, presented the keynote paper on the Revised Foreign Donation (Regulatory) Ordinance, 2025. Azizul Haque Sarder, Project Manager, ISPAT, UNDP, presented on the ISPAT Project and the Digital Transformative Initiative of NGOAB.

Anowarul Haq, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP, underscored the critical role of non-state actors in Bangladesh’s socio-economic development. He said, “Non-state actors play a critical role in Bangladesh’s development journey. Transparent and efficient management of foreign donations is essential to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We are grateful for the Australian Government’s support for the ISPAT partnership, which has helped make these reforms possible.”

Among others, Dr K. M. Mamun Uzzaman, Director (Joint Secretary), NGO Affairs Bureau, Chief Adviser’s Office, and Sheela Tasneem Haq, Senior Governance Specialist, UNDP, also spoke.

The ISPAT Project exemplifies a collaborative approach to regulatory reform, bringing government, development partners, and civil society together to create a more enabling environment between the service provider and service recipients in Bangladesh. This reform marks a significant step towards greater efficiency and impact in the country’s socio-economic development.