Charities and NGOs in Bangladesh
Bangladesh has one of the largest and most internationally influential NGO sectors in the world, anchored by globally recognized organizations like BRAC and Grameen plus thousands of national and community-based NGOs. The sector is active in poverty reduction, microfinance, primary and girls' education, public health, climate adaptation, the Rohingya refugee response in Cox's Bazar, women's empowerment, and disaster preparedness. Whether you are searching for a comprehensive list of NGOs in Bangladesh, an NGO Affairs Bureau lookup, an MRA microfinance license directory, or a single verified Bangladeshi nonprofit to donate to, GiveRadar consolidates official registration data, financial information, news coverage, and an independent integrity score for every Bangladeshi NGO. Read about how GiveRadar works before you give.
How charities and NGOs are registered in Bangladesh
Bangladeshi NGOs typically register first with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), the Department of Social Services, or the Department of Cooperatives, depending on legal form (Societies Registration Act 1860, Trust Act 1882, Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies Ordinance 1961, Cooperative Societies Act 2001, or Companies Act 1994). Organizations receiving foreign donations must also register with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) under the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act 2016. NGOs running microfinance operations require a license from the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA). Tax exemption is granted by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on application.
Major causes and well-known Bangladeshi NGOs
The Bangladeshi nonprofit landscape includes globally famous names and a deep base of local operators:
- Poverty reduction and microfinance: BRAC (the world's largest international NGO by employees), Grameen Bank, ASA Bangladesh, and TMSS.
- Health: icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research), Gonoshasthaya Kendra, BRAC Health Programme, and Marie Stopes Bangladesh.
- Education: BRAC Education Programme, Friendship Bangladesh, JAAGO Foundation, and Bidyanondo Foundation.
- Rohingya response: agencies operating in Cox's Bazar in partnership with UNHCR, IOM, and WFP.
- Disaster preparedness and climate: CARE Bangladesh, Friendship, Center for Climate Justice Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Disaster Preparedness Centre.
- Women's empowerment: BRAC, Naripokkho, Ain o Salish Kendra, and Karmojibi Nari.
- Children: SOS Children's Villages Bangladesh, Save the Children Bangladesh, and Plan International Bangladesh.
Compare two organizations side by side with our charity comparison tool, or browse best health charities in Bangladesh and best disaster relief charities in Bangladesh to narrow by cause.
How to evaluate a Bangladeshi NGO before donating
Bangladesh has a vast and uneven NGO sector, so donor diligence is essential. Things to check before giving to any Bangladeshi NGO:
- RJSC, Social Services, or appropriate registration: verify the registration certificate matches the legal form.
- NGOAB approval: required for NGOs receiving foreign donations.
- MRA license: required for any microfinance activity; verify on the MRA public list.
- NBR tax exemption: required for tax-deductibility of donor receipts.
- Audited annual reports: reputable Bangladeshi NGOs publish detailed accounts under International Standards on Auditing (Bangladesh).
- International partnerships: partners of UN agencies, USAID, FCDO, ECHO, or major foundations have usually passed vendor due-diligence checks.
- Sanctions and watchlists: use our free charity checker tool to cross-reference every Bangladeshi NGO against OFAC, EU, and UN watchlists automatically.
Each Bangladeshi NGO profile on GiveRadar combines registration, NGOAB approval, MRA licensing, NBR status, financials, governance, and third-party signals into a single 0-100 integrity score. Read our integrity score methodology for the full weighting.
Bangladesh NGO explorer: browse, filter, compare
This page works as a Bangladesh NGO explorer: every registered Bangladeshi NGO we hold data on, ranked and filterable by district, cause area, NGOAB and MRA status, financial transparency, presence of a website, and size. Use the filters on the left to narrow by category (poverty, health, education, refugee response, disaster preparedness, women's empowerment, children, religion, advocacy, and more), and the search bar to find a specific organization by name. The directory updates daily as we ingest new registration data and enrich existing records with contact details, financials, programs, and news coverage. To compare Bangladeshi giving against other markets, browse all countries or jump straight to disaster relief charities globally.
Donating to charities in Bangladesh
Most Bangladeshi NGOs accept bKash, Nagad, Rocket, and bank-transfer donations directly through their websites. International donors typically give through US 501(c)(3) intermediaries (such as Friends of BRAC, BRAC USA, Grameen Foundation), UK fiscal sponsors, or platforms like GlobalGiving and BetterPlace. Bangladeshi tax-resident donors can claim limited deductions for donations to NBR-approved organizations. GiveRadar links to each NGO's official donation channel where available and flags fundraising pages that look unverified. For a structured donor walkthrough, read our donor due-diligence guide.