Government lists 17 reasons to refuse or cancel the registration of foreign funds of NGOs

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). File

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has listed misappropriation of foreign funds for carrying out anti-development activities or inciting malicious protests and religious conversions as one of the 17 reasons for seeking Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act registration of a non-governmental organization to refuse or cancel. NGO).

In a notice uploaded on the ministry’s website on Monday, the MHA said if the ‘field investigation’ shows that any NGO whose acceptance of foreign funding may affect social or religious harmony or is involved in induced or forceful religious conversion or conversion, will face cancellation of aid its registration under the 2010 law.

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“If any NGO has diverted foreign contributions to carry out anti-development activities or incite malicious protests; field research has revealed the likelihood of personal gain for the organization or for its office holders; or it is likely that the foreign contribution has been used for undesirable activities; links with terrorist organizations or anti-national organizations; key officials have links with terrorist or radical organizations, their FCRA registration will be revoked,” the MHA said.

The ministry says that if the field organization has reported negative input against the NGO, the acceptance of foreign funding is likely to affect social, religious harmony; or is involved in induced, forceful religious conversion or conversion; or its office holders have ties to radical organizations – the organization will also face action under the FCRA.

FCRA registration will also be canceled if an NGO does not avail foreign funding in line with the NGO’s objectives or has failed to upload annual returns, the ministry said.

The FCRA registration, required to receive foreign funds, may be canceled if no activity has been carried out by it or it has been discontinued or the claimed activities could not be confirmed during field investigation or field investigation has shown that there is no reasonable activity for the welfare of society has been undertaken by the NGO in the last two to three years.

Other reasons for cancellation include pending prosecution against an office holder, member or key official for failure to respond to requested clarification, or for failure to provide required information or documents despite being given the opportunity to do so.