Religion and Development: Assessing the Contribution of the Faith Based Organizations in Bangladesh

Abstract

Religion has been playing a significant role in the socio-economic development of the society, more specifically of the under privileged people. Religion or Faith based NGOs are one of the pioneering agents of this kind of development. Though the contributions of such organizations; World Vision or Christian Aid for instances, have been evaluated in the Western academia, in Bangladesh the contributions of these Faith Based Organizations have been overlooked for a long time. FBOs have been working in Bangladesh on diverse issues from poverty reduction to health issues. This article in particular will critically assess the role of the Faith Based Organizations in Bangladesh. Apart from their positive contributions, an attempt has been shown to address few criticisms against them such as conversion and terrorist financing.