The Role of NGOs in Bangladesh During the COVID-19 Pandemic Followed by the Floods in the Northern Districts

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh during 2020−2022 caused a severe health crisis and unprecedented economic disruptions, with millions of job losses. These issues were exacerbated by the two unprecedented flash floods in mid-2022 in the northeastern districts of Sylhet and Sunamgonj, making the country recovering from the pandemic more vulnerable. The situation required an effective collective response from governmental and civil society organizations, including local and international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs and INGOs), to provide millions of affected people with affordable healthcare and offer shelter to the seven million-plus displaced flood victims. This chapter provides an in-depth discussion on the role and performance of some NGOs and INGOs and a few selected corporate and civil society organizations, frequently organized as foundations, in providing medical supplies, food, and finance, as well as material and emotional support to the victims. As will be shown, small NGOs were, in some cases, instrumental in saving the lives of hundreds of people during these turbulent times. While this does not undermine the key role of large national and international NGOs, we recommend providing more international aid to bigger and smaller grassroots NGOs. These entities should also be given greater governmental support to ensure that such initiatives fully benefit the communities in need.