"The transformation from NGO to bank is not a reform; it is a silent massacre against the most vulnerable people in society"

Over the past few decades, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh have served as important partners in human development and social justice. In the face of state failure and the government's lack of effective action for the marginalized, NGOs have created new hope through their development activities by standing by this marginalized segment of society.

They have not only provided services, but have also earned people's trust, respect, and life partners, especially for the poor, the disadvantaged, and women.

However, the so-called "reform" process imposed on the NGO sector in Bangladesh recently—particularly the process of transforming microfinance into banks—is essentially leading to the destruction of human development. This is not reform; rather, it is a planned structural change, the purpose of which is not human welfare, but financial profit and control.

The transition from humanitarianism to corporate governance

The executive directors and field workers who once worked to bring about change in the NGO sector are now becoming part of a corporate machine. Policymaking is now done in boardrooms, where the focus is not on human development but on banking regulations, revenue targets, and investor interests. The old spirit of NGOs—one of empathy, dialogue, and participation—is gone. Now the language of “targets” and “graphs” reigns supreme.

Field workers, who once stood by the poor and transformed their lives, are now engaged in debt collection. For them, this has become a kind of professional risk. Humanity is becoming a weakness and empathy is being identified as a professional incompetence. This change is ushering in a kind of moral degeneration in society, where development is no longer a symbol of liberation, but another form of governance.

Microfinance banks: a legitimate framework for exploitation

The concept of microfinance started with noble intentions—to ensure women empowerment, financial inclusion, and social progress. But in reality, it has become a corporate exploitation system. Today's poor are being labeled as "default risks," where their situation is becoming a cry for help from an economic perspective. The development of women's empowerment and participation is today confined to graphs in reports.

People who used to participate in decision-making are now simply victims of debt collection. Development now comes “from above”—through policies, fiscal targets, and frameworks set by international financial institutions. As a result, rights-based development is being undermined, citizens’ voices are being silenced, and poor people are becoming mere consumers, not partners.

State policy and corporate lobbying: a common interest circle

To legitimize this, governments, regulatory agencies, and NGO lobbyists are locked in a vicious circle of self-interest. They are hiding the real reality in the name of efficiency, financial stability, and reform instead of development and humanity. Behind these terms lies a well-organized economic process that serves corporate profit rather than the humanitarian goals of NGOs.

The role of the state is controversial here—when policymakers are guided by the influence of international financial institutions, "development for the poor" becomes "development on the poor." NGOs, once the last refuge of justice for people, are now becoming untainted by financial interests.

The ethics and human responsibility of development

Development is not just a game of statistics; it is a promise of humanity, justice and social dignity. Development that diminishes human dignity cannot be called development; it is another form of exploitation. The process of transformation from NGOs to microfinance banks is essentially a humanitarian disaster; where development is becoming moral degradation and humanitarian institutions are becoming corporate tools.

The UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were founded on the principle of "leaving no one behind". But this principle is now under threat. If states and development partners do not reverse this trend, the development sector will become an economic desert in the future, with loans, reports and reports, but no people.

The time for humanitarian resistance is now.
The transformation from NGOs to microfinance banks is not a reform; it is a moral degradation, a human genocide. Taking a stand against this process is not just an opinion, it is a social and political responsibility.

Those who believe in development must now ask the question—for whom is development? In whose hands is development? And who is the real owner of development? The state, policymakers, international partners, and civil society—all must come together to fight this humanitarian crisis.

Because development is not just an economic indicator; it is a responsibility to people, it is a commitment to humanity. If we do not accept this responsibility now, future history will say—we sold out human development to corporate policies.
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The author is a digital democracy expert and Responsible Artificial Intelligence Ambassador for Bangladesh