Realisation of most of the loans have become uncertain, sources in the NGOs said. The loans were given for generating self-employment and small businesses, they said.

Nripendra Nath Das, district manager of Association for Social Advancement (ASA), said they distributed about Tk 12 core loans among 35,000 people, mostly women, grouped in over 1000 associations in different slums in the city.

Abbasuddin, local manager of BRAC, another leading NGO, said they distributed more than Tk 6 core among about 5,000 women under 80 associations.

Anwar Zahid, executive director of Samonnito Samajik Unnayon Sangstha, said they distributed Tk 3.5 core among about 9,000 members grouped in 350 associations.

Hasina Pervin, Barisal Sadar upazila coordinator of another leading NGO Proshika, said over 10,000 female members in 600 associations were given about Tk 2.6 core as micro credit for different income generating activities.

Abdus Salam, supervisor of Shakti Foundation, a local NGO, said they disbursed over Tk core taka among 2500 members of 100 associations in the slums.

Jahanara Begum Swapna, director of Chandradwip Development Society (CDS), another local NGO, said they disbursed about Tk one core among 9,000 recipients in 50 groups.

Besides theses organizations Grameen Bank, Bangladesh Social Advancement Society (BDS), Association for Voluntary Action for Society (AVAS),Integrated Development Association of Bangladesh (INDAB), Association for Village Development (AVA), Community Service Centre (CSC), Caritas, Jubo Karma Sangsthan Society, South Bangla Credit Association, Bikalpa Unnoyan Karmasuchi (BUK), Voluntary Organization for Social Deve-lopment (VOSD), Love Thy Neighbor(LTN), Steps for Women Development(SWD), Social Economic Development Society (SEDS), Social Advancement Society(SAS) and other NGOs invested cores of taka under micro credit programs among slum dwellers in the city.

Sardar Humaun Kabir of BDS, Anwar Zahid of SSUS,J ahana Begum Swapna of CDS and other NGO officials said, those who have become homeless can not repay loan installments. The recipients can not be forced to repay loans in such conditions, they said.

They also blamed local activists of different political parties for the present situation. The poor loan recipients paid rents and resided in slums raised by party men under protection of governments, they said.

Most of the slums were raised on government lands and political parties realised rent, they said. Many of the loan recipients have also left the slums for unknown destinations, making loan recovery totally uncertain.

They should have been given adequate time and provided with alternative arrangements before eviction, the NGO officials said.

NGOs gave micro credits to poor people on interest rates up to 40 per cent, sources claimed.