FOREIGN DONATIONS (VOLUNTARY ACTIVITIES) REGULATION ACT 2016 Whereas it is necessary and expedient to promulgate a new law updating and considering the provisions of the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulations Ordinance 1978 ( Ordinance No. XLVI of 1978) and Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Ordinance 1982 (Ordinance No. XXXI of 1982) by repealing the same Now, therefore the following Act is hereby promulgated:- 1. Short Title and Commencement. – (1) This Act shall be called the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act 2016. (2) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint. 2. Definitions. – In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant to the subject or context, - (1) “NGO” means any organization registered by the Bureau to conduct voluntary activities inside Bangladesh and any organization or NGO registered under prevalent law of any foreign country, which is also registered under this Act, shall be included in it; (2) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules; (3) “Project” means any project approved by the Bureau under this Act; (4) “Rule’’ means rule framed under this Act; (5) “Foreign Donation’’ means funds, goods, or any other grants or assistance given in any other form by any foreign Government, organization or any expatriate Bangladeshi citizen, in favor of any organization, NGO or individual to conduct voluntary or Charitable activities inside Bangladesh; (6) “Individual” means a person permitted by the Bureau to receive foreign donations in order to undertake voluntary activities under this Act; (7) “Bureau” means the NGO Affairs Bureau; (8) “Director General” means the Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau; (9) “Organization” means a non-political, non-profit voluntary association of persons established or registered under the relevant law of Bangladesh by whatever name it may be called with a view to conducting voluntary activities inside Bangladesh (10)“Voluntary Activities” shall mean and include non-profit social, religious, cultural, economic, educational activities, healthcare, pure drinking water and sewerage system, relief and rehabilitation, agriculture and agricultural development infrastructure, public awareness, poverty alleviation, women’s empowerment, democracy and good governance, human rights, secularism, Activities related to the empowerment of marginal and under-privileged masses and upholding their rights, children and the adolescents, Activities related to the participation of the elderly and retarded people and upholding their rights, equal rights and equal participation, environment conservation and development, climate change, natural resources, efficiency enhancement, science and information technology, vocational activities, social welfare, Research Activities, Activities related to the development and protection of various ethnic 1