ABSTRACT
Bangladesh has been a fertile ground for non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Over the past few decades the NGO sector has experienced unprecedented growth, making Bangladesh home to the largest number of NGOs in the world, including some of the most successful ones. NGOs have seen such remarkable growth in terms of number, size, membership and budget that in some cases they have surpassed the government. With their increased involvement in poverty alleviation and socio-economic development with a particular focus on the poor and disadvantaged sections of the community such as women, NGOs now occupy center stage in the development landscape of the country. Given that NGOs generally have a superior record in promoting participation and reaching the poor compared to the government, they have enjoyed growing support from international donors which has helped them diversify their programs and services. Lately, they have expanded their operations beyond traditional microcredit and other pro-poor programs. In the current climate prevalent locally and globally, they are likely to expand their programs even further. The government has not only created space for NGOs and supported their programs through a generous policy framework and with funding; it has also forged partnerships with NGOs in various sectors. Thus NGOs have become a major partner of the government, which has enabled them to exert increasing influence on governmental policies and actions.
