"The [NGOs] do not understand that if the government pulls the string, it will be difficult for them to work," Saifur said at the inauguration of the Bangladesh NGO Foundation at the Bangladesh Institute of Administrative Management (BIAM) auditorium yesterday.

The finance minister alleged that when the NGO officials go to seminars or workshops abroad, they do not even bother to contact or cooperate with the government delegation.

There is an impression abroad that "it is the NGOs that are doing everything and the government is doing nothing", Saifur said, adding, "This has emerged as a disturbing factor for the government."

Emphasising the need for a healthy partnership between the NGOs and the government, he said, "It is the government that first took all the good initiatives in education and health sectors. The NGOs and others joined in later."

The finance minister gave away the first instalment of Tk 1,00,000 each to 58 small NGOs at the programme.

The NGO foundation started its journey with a fund of Tk 100 crore to provide grants to the local small and medium NGOs, which do not have the support of any foreign funds.

Cabinet Secretary and foundation Chairman Dr Sadat Hussain said 58 small NGOs from 45 districts were selected out of 2,133 applicants for a grant of Tk 2,00,000 each, of which the first instalment was given away yesterday.

Joint Finance Secretary and Managing Director of the foundation Md Abdul Majid said the awardees, selected on the basis of some select criteria, have been working in the remote areas of 80 upazilas in the fields of education, community-based rehabilitation of the disabled, sanitation, drinking water, agriculture and others.

The eight-member governing board of the foundation comprises M Hafizuddin Khan, managing director of Social Development Foundation, Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, chairman of Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh, Rokia A Rahman, president of Women Entrepreneurs Association, Dr Fakruddin Ahmed, managing director of Palli Karmashahayak Foundation, M Khalid Shams, managing director of grameen Telecom, Rasheda K Cowdhury, executive director of Gana Shakkharata Abhijan-CAMPE, Md Shafiqul Haq Chowdhury, president of ASA, and CQK Mustaq Ahmed, director general of NGO Affairs Bureau.