The NGO Affairs Bureau, the state’s watchdog for NGO activities, has suspended six different projects being run out of the Cox’s Bazar branch of an NGO called Mukti – on allegations of making sharp tools for distribution among the Rohingyas. Some 600 of these tools were allegedly made also. An official suspension order signed by the assignment officer of NGO Affairs Bureau Sirajul Islam Khan was issued on Wednesday. The bureau is set to probe the allegations.
Mukti Cox’s Bazar Branch Chief Executive Bimal Chandra Dey Sarker said they have already suspended the six projects and welcomed any sort of inquiry from the government. “Currently we have 30 projects ongoing, of which six have been suspended. 135 of the 150 people who were working in these six projects are locals,” Sarker said.
He further said the NGO stands for all government activities and they are implementing projects abiding by government directives.
The six suspended projects of Mukti are: Non-formal education programme for the children of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals; strengthening resilience and food security of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals and host community in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar; improvement of water, sanitation and hygiene for the displaced persons from Myanmar and host community in Cox’s Bazar; enhancing learning outcomes for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar; improve WASH through fecal sludge management and bathing cubicle for the displaced persons from Myanmar in Cox’s Bazar; and protection initiative for unaccompanied or orphaned children in Cox’s Bazar.