This text explains the role currently played by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Bangladesh. From being peripheral organizations, NGO’s today have grown in importance and impact to play a major role in different developmental activities. The book answers the following questions: why are Bangladesh NGOs praised throughout the world, yet attacked within their own country? Why are NGOs which take foreign donations treated differently from the government which takes foreign grants and loans, the organizations of the Islamic religion which take foreign grants, or the busieness sector which takes foreing investment? Why do Bangaldeshi NGOs receive adulatory visits from foreign dignitries, but rarely from Bangladeshi dignitaries? The author identifies three key issues in exploring these questions: first the long established assumptions that the people of Bangaldesh have about the rightful role of government (backed up by the assumptions that government has about its own role); secondly, the roles that the Bangladeshi people expect the political parties to play; and third, the roles the Bangladeshi expects charitable organizations to play. The book contains lessons for all those concerned with understanding the relationship between state and civil society organizations throughout the developing world.