NGO Affairs Bureau reinstates Muslim Aid-UK’s registration

The NGO Affairs Bureau has reinstated Muslim Aid-UK’s Bangladesh field office registration, withdrawing its cancellation order issued on 13 August under the Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act, 2016.

The decision was conveyed in an order issued on 19 October and signed by Barrister Md Khalilur Rahman Khan, director (registration and audit) of the bureau.

Muslim Aid-UK’s Bangladesh field office, registered under number 552 on 10 November 1991, had its registration cancelled on 13 August 2026.

According to bureau sources, the organisation’s Country Director Mohsin Siddiqui appealed the cancellation to the Prime Minister’s Office. Following a hearing, the office on 17 August directed the bureau to withdraw the cancellation order and take necessary steps to reinstate the registration.

The reinstatement was made subject to the restructuring of the organisation’s governing board and management and compliance with all conditions imposed at the time of registration.

A bureau official, speaking to The Business Standard on condition of anonymity, said the organisation had previously faced government restrictions over relief operations among Rohingya refugees.

In October 2017, Muslim Aid-UK and two other non-governmental organisations – Islamic Relief and the Allama Fazlullah Foundation – were ordered to stop distributing relief among Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar.

The official said the organisations had faced allegations of conducting unauthorised activities under the cover of relief operations. However, the 2017 measure did not suspend all of Muslim Aid-UK’s activities in Bangladesh; it restricted its relief operations among Rohingya refugees. The 13 August 2026 decision, by contrast, cancelled the organisation’s registration in Bangladesh.

Muslim Aid is a UK-based international humanitarian and development organisation established in London in November 1985 by 23 British Muslim organisations to assist people affected by famine in Africa. Its work includes poverty alleviation, emergency disaster relief, healthcare, education, safe water and sanitation, livelihood development and the rehabilitation of vulnerable people.

The organisation sent emergency relief to Bangladesh during the devastating floods of 1985, before establishing a permanent office. It formally began field operations in the country after the catastrophic cyclone of 1991.

Since then, it has implemented emergency relief programmes alongside longer-term projects involving cyclone shelters, agricultural development and livelihoods.