Recreating the Commons? NGO's in Bangladesh

Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) are an integral aspect of society in Bangladesh. They provide a variety of services to people, generate employment, mobilize public opinion, and influence governmental policy. They remain as an important liaison with the donor community and are a substantial cultural, political and economic presence in the country. NGOs are involved in many important sectors of the economy such as education, health, and finance. They are relevant politically, given that many of them are active in addressing important issues relating to gender, poverty, corruption and the activities of civil society. There is an additional dimension to the efforts made by the NGO’s and the initiatives taken by them in an attempt to raise consciousness and to empower people, thereby altering how citizens in Bangladesh view their rights and obligation in society. Although various studies of specific organizations exist, few scholars have examined the overall politics, economics, and culture of NGOs in Bangladesh. This study constitutes a scholarly approach to the subject. It raises critical questions, examines relevant issues from within specific broader levels of analysis, and explores the processes through which NGOs have become an indispensable part of the socio-political landscape of Bangladesh.