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The NGOs Sector in Bangladesh: Emergence, contribution and Current Debate

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Advances in Asian Social Science (AASS) 1182
Vol. 7, No. 2, 2016, Pages: 1182-1188, ISSN: 2167-6429
Copyright © World Science Publisher, United States
www.worldsciencepublisher.org

The NGOs sector in Bangladesh: emergence, contribution and

current debate
Md. Shahidul Islam1

Researchassociate, Bangladesh Institute of Social Research Trust, Bangladesh.

E-mail: shahidulsoc@gmail.com

Abstract: This paper briefly discusses the growth, types and activities and both positive and negative impacts of NGOs
in Bangladesh. The result showed the NGOs have started their work in Bangladesh as a relief and rehabilitation
activities but they are now becoming a large partner of the government for socio-economic development. After that, this
paper also showed the implementer, catalyst, and partner role of the NGOs in Bangladesh. Although NGOs have the
largely positive impact in our socioeconomic development especially in the grassroots level, they have also negative
impact in our society. Some NGOs in Bangladesh is working like as a quasi commercial activities and corporate bodies
where their main intention is to making profit. Some microcredit provider in Bangladesh working like as the traditional
banking system and they make the trap for the poor where they have to repay the loan with high interest rate. Finally,
this paper makes a clear view that NGOs’ activity in Bangladesh is positive and good.

Keywords: Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), History, Development, Bangladesh.

increased in terms of size, scope membership, and

finances pressure within the international development
1. Introduction: area. This sector is now considered as one of the most
sophisticated development networks in whole world. One
Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), as a basic example is that BRAC has been enhanced its activity not
service provider to the vulnerable people of society have only in Bangladesh but also other eight countries
been rapidly increasing especially from the last two including Afghanistan. Most importantly, it has the
decades in the local, national and international largest employer which is a little behind then the
developmental arena. In terms of ensuring social progress, Bangladesh Government (Fowler, 2010). Nowadays,
policy advocacy and public campaigns are major NGOs are the main channel for catching the attention of
functions of such organizations. NGOs are working the both national and international donor agencies for
through covering broaden arena including emergency Bangladesh. For example, NGOs earned USD
response, democracy building, conflict resolution, human 5,429,242.13 and USD 719,012,183.05 in 1990-91 and
rights work, cultural protection, environmental activism, 2013-14 respectively from different international donors
policy suggestion, research, information sharing (Lewis, (Bureau, 2003). NGOs are also increasing its working
2010; Lewis & Kanji, 2009). In order to achieve arena: in 1990 -1991 it approved 464 projects, whereas in
Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) alongside with 2013-2014 the numbers of approved projects were 1116.
the Perspective Plan 2010-2021 based on the Vision 2021, Additionally, International donors and agency have been
NGOs with its staffs have been working selflessly, by recognized NGOs as a fertile place for their development
their activities in health, education, and gender equity program. Till 31 December 2014, the numbers of
sectors significantly. Thus way such organizations along working NGOs in Bangladesh were 2356.
with governmental organizations are playing core role in
eradicating extreme poverty and hunger in least 2. Definition of NGOs
developed and developing countries, achieving universal
primary education for all, promoting gender equality and The NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) simply
reduce gender based violence, reducing child and infant refers to the voluntary organizations, private voluntary
mortality, improving maternal health, fighting diseases non-profit organizations or not-for-profit organizations. It
such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, ensuring environmental is very difficult to define the NGOs because many
sustainability, and developing global partnerships for scholars, disciplines define it in various patterns.
action (Lewis & Kanji, 2009). Moreover, this term does not refer to descriptive or
In terms of overcoming the vulnerable situation just analytical rigor but it is rooted with cultural or historical
after the independence war 1971, few Bangladeshi thoughts about NGO where it was emerged (Lewis,
individuals attempted to do some for the country. At this 2010), 2010). For instance, the nonprofit organization is
time some NGOs were born and started their activity as a widely used in the USA, where the citizen’ organizations
relief and rehabilitation with their lower capacity and are rewarded with the financial benefits if they are not
capability. After that, this sector has been rapidly working for profit gain or commercial activities rather for
Advances in Asian Social Science (AASS) 1183
Vol. 7, No. 2, 2016, Pages: 1182-1188, ISSN: 2167-6429
Copyright © World Science Publisher, United States
www.worldsciencepublisher.org
public welfare (Lewis, 2010). On the other hand, one or more persons dedicated to implement the projects
“voluntary organization’’ or ‘‘charity’’ is frequently used as the grass root level (Rahman, 1993).
in the United Kingdom, where voluntary work is related Although NGOs are not part of the government
with both Christian values and the development of structure or they works outside the government structure
charity law. For example, Oxfam is more likely to they are being worked within the legal framework the
register as a charity organization. The NGO acronym was country where they worked According to this view
first used in 1945 by the United Nations to specify their “associations voluntarily formed by individuals for the
development activities for those were not of national purpose of rendering welfare and development services
governments. But many NGOs established in late 19th outside government structures; drawing funds
and early 20th century, like as the British Anti-Slavery formational or international sources, and functioning
Society (1838), International Committee of the Red within the legal frame work of the country” (Halim,
Cross (1864), Sierra Club (1892), Save the Children 1993). NGOs are not the part of the government or not
Fund (1919) (Kim, 2014). The history of such activities part of a public sectors bureaucracy. However, NGOs
is too long and could not be recognized as receive support from the government. Ashan define the
nongovernmental. NGO in the Bangladesh context as “organizations
There are various formations of NGOs, ranging from engaged in activities that are private in origin, voluntary
small informal groups to large formal agencies (Lewis, by design but selling services, nonprofit distributing by
2010)In addition, NGOs are implementing various types claims but make profit out of the provided services cross-
of activities in different societies, with its’ different subsidizing” (Ahsan, 2005).
shapes. (Lewis, 2010). There activities also differ from NGOs are generally considered as a third sector
country to country. For examples, NGOs are considering organization, which is neither government sector or nor
a dense network of voluntary associations in Lebanon, business sector, are primarily worked in development or
Rwanda, and the Weimar Republic, but they are not humanitarian action at local, national, and international
successful to build democratic norms and peaceful levels (Lewis, 2010), This may worked whether market
coexistence in those countries (Edwards, 2007). In or state failed. So, NGO is defined “as a response to
contrast, NGOs have a good results in terms of demand for public or quasi-public goods and services
democratic participation in India but tiny success in supplied by neither the market nor the state” (Weisbrod,
poverty reduction (Edwards, 2007).On the other hand, 2000).“NGOs are self-governing, private, not-for-profit
NGOs of Spain, Botswana, and Hungary have good organizations that are geared to improve the quality of
impacts on economic and social development with a life for disadvantaged people.”(Lewis, 2010). Various
lower density of number. But in China and the East Asian types of groups are included in this third sector as trade
tigers, NGOs have been increasing number and size, unions, professional associations, organizations
achieving good economic result but they are controlled concerned with arts or sport, and media (Lewis, 2010).
by their own government.
The shape of NGOs also differs in their structure for 3. Reasons for rapid growth of NGO in
example, some NGOs are either small or large; some Bangladesh
NGOs are formal or informal; as well as some are
bureaucratic or some are flexible (Lewis, 2010). In Despite lack of resources and expertise, Bangladesh
relation to funding, some NGOs depend on the external government is spontaneously providing goods and
fund and some NGOs depend on only locally mobilized services from public sectors to his population. But due to
resources (Lewis, 2010).There are different form of corruption, political patronage, and weak management
NGOs, such as community-based organizations (work system, the services did not achieve success. Besides this,
only within a specific community) or people’s due to the rapid growth of its population, the Bangladesh
organizations and intermediary forms of NGOs (works Government has remained unsuccessful in terms of
outside of the community and grassroots support providing sufficient services. Furthermore, the
organizations (GSOs) (Lewis, 2010). There are some government give more emphasize to develop the macro
bogus NGOs established by the government, like as level infrastructure like, as roads, hospitals, school,
(GONGOs – government-organized NGOs). There are bridge etc. As a result, it is very hard for the government
also briefcase NGOs established by individuals for to give social services at the grassroots level. On the
personal profit gain. Some NGOs are well-resourced and contrary, NGOs can easily reach the grassroots people for
wealthy while some NGOs are very poor and breakable, providing services (Bagci, 2003). So, international donor
struggling for surviving and existence. Some NGOs have agency prefers NGOs for giving their fund in the area of
highly professionals and expert staff while other has only microfinance, promotion of income –generating
volunteers and supporters (Lewis, 2010) .NGOs are activities, health and education services, community
generally worked as nongovernment organizations but mobilization, right awareness, disaster preparedness and
they can receive fund from the government. They are the disaster management operation (Khan, 2015) .Even,
nonprofit organizations, but some are only shaped for NGOs are considered as the major sources of foreign
earning profit (Lewis, 2010). For this reason, the donor investment in the field of poverty reduction
boundary of NGO is unclear. But in normal sense, NGO strategy in Bangladesh (Peters (Petras, 1999). On the
refers to the voluntary and nonprofit organization, other hand, different international governing bodies
worked for socio-economic development. It is an including the United Nations, The World Bank, etc. have
association that organized for the voluntary basis where premised that third world governments are corrupt,
Advances in Asian Social Science (AASS) 1184
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www.worldsciencepublisher.org
ineffective, and unable of delivering many essential
social and economic services for their citizen. So, they 5.1 In British Period
choose NGOs for providing services to poor, instead of
state services (Karim, 2001). On the other hand, Foreign Religious charity and Christian missionary and better
donors prefer to transfer their funds through NGOs than of the members of the community organized school,
public sectors because they consider the public sector as mosques and relief was provided for the victims of
slow, rigid, hierarchic and insensitive towards local needs natural disasters. In this time, voluntaries group includes
and problems (Jamil, 1998). Moreover, public sector Zamindar and Zamindar’ families, land-based elite, and
needs lengthy formal process to receive the foreign fund other religious group had emerged instinctively providing
where NGOs are more flexible to receive foreign funds aid to the victims of flood, famine and epidemics (Haider,
and can quickly take appropriate strategy to meet the 2011). This was the self-service temporary activity
local needs and demand .At present; NGOs are increasing without any proper structure and closed after the
continuously with the support of foreign aid in the forms development of the condition. Christian missionaries
of resources, ideas, and human resources. were the first started charity work and social welfare
services with proper institutionalize structure (Haider,
4. Types of NGOs in Bangladesh 2011). Although their main intent was to spear Christian
religion, they started their activity in remote and poverty-
Lewis identifies two types of NGOs, (a) Northern stricken areas, where they set up hospitals, schools,
NGOs referrers to who’s originated from industrialized orphanages and so forth. Baptist Missionary Society was
countries or developed countries(Lewis, 2010) (b) another one of oldest missionaries recognized in British
Southern NGOs refers to the organization from less period which has been working since 1979 (Haider,
developed countries. According to the World Bank, 2011).Christian Mission Hospital founded in Rajshahi in
NGOs are classified with two types, Operational NGOs 1880 and the Kumudini Welfare Trust founded in 1944
(works with the plan and implementation of that were reputed associations in British period mostly
development-related projects) and Advocacy NGOs survived on the foreign fund. But they did not pursue the
(support for the specific cause). development of grassroots level.
There are three types of NGOs in Bangladesh:(a)
Local NGOs refer to small types of NGOs working in a 5.2 Pakistan period
small area especially cover the community level to the
limited local area, (b) National NGOs refer to those In the Pakistan period, the Pakistan Academy for
activities extend in the whole country, and (c) Rural Development (PARD), presently known as
International NGOs come from outside of the Bangladesh Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD),
but they hire some of the local staffs. was established in 1956 for the development of the rural
On the basis of their fund collection, Jamil (1998) community. Due to the complexities of bureaucratic
identifies three types of NGOs in Bangladesh, (a) NGOs structure and government planning, their services could
which are purely of foreign origin; these NGOs directly not reach the grass root levels (Haider,
operate their activities or support the local NGOs by 2011).Cooperative organizations in village level formed
giving only fun(Jamil, 1998). Most of these are Christian by farmers such as Palli Mongal Samities, village welfare
or charity origin, but they are now working for social societies, and the village framer cooperative model
welfare. Their fund has come from abroad and focal played a vital role for in agricultural development.
employees are foreigner(Jamil, 1998). These types of During the natural disasters, some non-governmental
NGOs are guided by headquarters. Sometimes they make organization such as Co-operative for American Relief in
cooperation with local NGOs. (b) NGOs which are local Everywhere (CARE) and CARITAS (Christain
but funded from abroad; they take technical supports Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation) had worked
from abroad. Most of the large NGOs such as BRAC in sheltering people in the coastal area, those were
(Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), Proshika, displaced due to the tidal waves between 1960 and
GSS (Gono Shahajjya Sangstha) are these types. Their 1970(Haider, 2011).In Bangladesh, both the local and
employees are professional and different from their client international NGOs started their activities to provide
(c) A myriad of small NGOs which operate locally: They relief and rehabilitation after the 1970 cyclone and their
collect the fund both national and international donors. activities enhance after the liberation period (Haider,
Some of them collect fund from local resources. Some of 2011).
them are local voluntary agencies, local club. They are
small and easily breakable. .5 Post liberation period

5. The Emergence and Expansion of NGOs The historical background of NGOs in post-liberation
in Bangladesh: period can be categorized in the following discussion-
5.5.1First generation (1971-1972):After 1971
Many researchers consider the development of NGO was liberation war, the government of Bangladesh, faced
initiated with the starting of British rule in this difficulties to resettle at least ten million people with
subcontinent. But the NGOs have been developed poor resources, neither had sufficient capacity nor had
significantly since Pakistan period. The development of enough finance to deal with this war affected people in
NGOs can be divided into some periods: single handed (Ahsan, 2005). Besides that, the Pakistani
Advances in Asian Social Science (AASS) 1185
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www.worldsciencepublisher.org
army destroyed physical infrastructures such as bridges, society played a major role to the end of Ershad regime
roads, highways, and rail tracks. The whole country was too. Through the anti-autocracy movement in 1990, the
distorted into various parts and it was very difficult to civil society was developed and extended their works in
reach government support to the remote places. Bangladesh. At that time, many organization like the
At this time, NGOs in Bangladesh emerged to rights of women in society committee, help to law-
undertake relief and rehabilitation activities to reduce abiding committee, emancipation of woman society,
the suffering of the war victim’s people and to develop crime reporters associations, democracy watch was
the physical infrastructure of this country. In that time, growth.
their prior operation was to distribute food, medicine,
blankets, cloths, etc. Among the war affected people. 5.6 Second phase (1990-to date):
Some NGO origin from outside of the Bangladesh, for
example, Terred des Honmmes supported the unwanted After 1990, NGO sectors were rapidly increased
children of the war. At this time, some indigenous NGOs because foreign assistance is available at that time.
such as BRAC, Proshika, Ganoshastho Kendro (GK), Similarly, some of the donors have established some the
Gono Shahajya Sangstha (GSS), Nijera Kori, and the specific fund for supporting specific NGOs only. In this
Association for Social Advancement (ASA) were time, NGOs have turned into enhance their activities to
established (Karim, 2001). For example, Gano Shastya maximize profit as fisheries projects, fertilizer supply,
was a well reputed a mobile medical unit, provided animal husbandry services, and handicrafts to more
medical support to the freedom fighters in 1971, RDRS recent initiatives like banking, garment manufacturing,
provided post- war rehabilitation services and supports retail outlets, telecommunications, and so forth (Devine,
and developed transpiration facility in the north-west 2006). In many political issues, civil society has broad
region and BRAC provided the necessary relief and participation. NGOs work to increase environmental
rehabilitation to the community of fishermen in the awareness, women empowerment, and preservation of
north-east (Zohir, 2004). biological diversity. By using and developing electronic
5.5.2 Second generation (1973-75): For the impact of media, civil society creates public opinion in particular
globalization and transfer of state power, the role of NGO issues. Civil society has the great enterprise in the
has been changed and emphasized on integrated formation of the Care Taker Government, changing
community development programs. By receiving foreign government in 1996 as well as 2001 and to mitigate
funds, NGO sectors emergent with the strongest role in extreme political crisis and conflict in 2006, those made
development self-reliant local development sectors. At the civil society was special identity in Bangladesh. After
this time, Swanirvar Bangladesh (SB) was established to 1990, Awami League and (Bangladesh Nationalist Party)
increase agricultural production and attain self- BNP supported civil society, two different and opposite
sufficiency to the deprive people and played an effective civil society has been observed. Researchers remarked
role in mobilizing youth in rural areas and small towns to that in the political issues, the civil society has great
reduce pilferage in the delivery of relief and development political division. Particularly, civil society has played an
services through government channels(Zohir, 2004).But important role to change the political scenario in the
disfavoring the relief activities, NGOs have transformed context of 1/11 in Bangladesh.
themselves to create an effective organizational
mechanism for performing work at the grass-roots level 6. Positive aspect of NGOs
especially for the poor because they realized that merely NGOs are now considered as the third sectors that
relief efforts do not solve the problem of the poor come forward to provide social services to people of this
(Haider, 2011). For that reason, their activities expanded country. NGOs have achieved greater success in case of
to rehabilitation program such as agriculture, fisheries, developing the socioeconomic condition in the remote
livestock, cooperatives, health and family planning, adult rural area whether the government failed to reach this
education, vocational training, etc)(Haider, 2011). area. The main aim of NGOs are to develop the socio-
5.5.3 Third generation (1976-to date): First phase: economic condition, becoming very close to the
(1976-1990): Firstly, the civil society and NGOs played government, and working as services provider besides
the important role in establishing anti-political military the government. Sometimes, many government
rule ideology and democracy, human rights and the rule departments hire NGOs for delivering their services. For
of law. Secondly, many NGOs were developed to achieve example, NGOs are supporting the government policies
the financial capability of the marginal group of people and programs; mobilize resources in many development
and at the time of martial law under president Zia, civil agenda as like as health, education, poverty reduction, etc.
society could not play the very active role beyond some NGOs have undertaken many researches in our country
professional outburst of anger and protest against the new in various aspects to understand the present situation,
political order. But civil society was very active against find out the problems and opportunities. They share
Ershad’s regime. A large number of civil societies had result with the government and on the basis of this result,
emerged to lunch against Ershad’s doctrines such as labor they give suggestion to upgrade the government policy
and peasant associations, Bar Associations, Student (Ball & Dunn, 1995).
Organizations, The SKOP (Unity Council of Workers NGOs are becoming potential forces for social and
and Employees) and so on. The Hindu-Buddha-Christian economic development in Bangladesh. It has become the
Oikya Parishad, various cultural and professional groups, essential partners for national level development. They
etc were played a significant role against him. Civil are working to raise awareness, especially enable people
Advances in Asian Social Science (AASS) 1186
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www.worldsciencepublisher.org
to participate in recognizing their needs in national level the government simultaneously working in many fields
(Ball & Dunn, 1995). such as poverty alleviation, micro-credit provision,
Lewis identifies three major roles of NGOs which are health and family planning, education and training, rural
the implementer, catalyst, and partner. The implementer empowerment, disaster management, water supply and
role of NGOs deals with the mobilization of the resources sanitation etc (Haque, 2004). Moreover, NGOs are now
for providing goods and services to target people, become the partner in many simple assignments like as
especially to the disadvantaged and marginalized people. agriculture, irrigation, livestock, fisheries, forestry,
NGOs are giving services in many fields such as housing, population control, environment. For example,
healthcare, microfinance, agricultural extension, BRAC started partnership with government in the area of
emergency relief, and human rights. In the time of natural empowering women and income generation activities for
disaster or manmade emergency, the government and vulnerable women (Haque, 2004). Similarly, the
donors need the assistant of NGOs for providing government began to work in partnership with Proshika
necessary support to overcome such bad situation. After in agricultural cooperative system, especially in irrigation
the independence, there arose a general understanding program whether rural poor could hold irrigation
that infrastructure development programs were not equipment. The Nobel Prize winner Grameen bank has
appropriate for the rural poor, NGO sector in Bangladesh given loan without collateral for income generation
have shifted to services delivery programs from social activities to the poor and poverty reduction. Government
mobilization or community activism. Now, NGOs are has supported this microcredit program and formed
providing food aid, credit, health care, and education to collaboration with the Grameen Bank for the
the poor people. development of the microcredit scheme.
The catalyst role refers to the NGOs’ capacity to The Government and NGOs jointly have been worked to
motivate and contribute to social transformation. They improve classroom and teaching condition in both
are conducting many activities likely as grassroots government and of NGO schools under The Primary
organizing and group formation, gender and Education Development Program (1997–2002). NGOs
empowerment work, lobbying and advocacy work, and are still working to eradicate illiteracy, especially work
attempts to influence wider policy processes through for children’s education, particularly in girls’ education.
innovation, and policy entrepreneurship. They are BRAC has started with the collaboration with
operating many projects for the transformation toward government in the education sector, has started satellite
gender equality in Bangladesh. NGOs are now operating school system based on the informal education system.
intervention to train up the School Management BRAC has provided basic education to almost 10 million
Committee (SMC) members and primary school teachers Bangladeshi students
on gender issues (DeJaeghere & Wiger, 2013). NGOs' Bangladesh government is weak for giving support to
microcredit program enhances the women empowerment her large population in terms of health care facility,
in the rural area. In Bangladesh, women are considered as especially in the rural poor. The government and NGOs
subordinate to male and could not exercise the equal right are working together to provide health care services for
to participate in the economic, social, cultural, civil and the poor especially to disadvantaged rural poor (Ullah,
political position. Most of the women have the marginal 2006). The Government and NGO partnership is
position in the society; especially in rural areas they have successful in the health sector, especially in health,
few access to educational services, health care, economic nutrition, and family planning. For example, the
activities and so on. Women in Bangladesh they engaged Bangladesh Integrated Nutrition Project jointly is run by
in many activities like that supervision of crops, the government, the community, and NGOs (Haque,
livestock rearing , fisheries, foresty, energy and family 2004). Government and NGO partnership is effective in
(domestic chores as cleaning, cooking, childcare, the area of malnutrition and the underprivileged people
fetching water and so on) (Islam, Ahmed, & Alam, living in slums (Haque, 2004). The Bangladesh
2014). These types of activities cannot enhance the government and NGOs working together in family
women position or their contribution is unacknowledged. planning program that offers awareness including
Evidence supports that if women are engaged in maintaining small family size, direct education about the
economic activities; their social conditions also raise the sexual transmitted disease and distribution of
family and society. So, NGOs are giving loan without contraceptives from doors to doors visit and
any collateral to the women so that they can start income motivational activities as well as reproductive health care
generation activities. Group lending or microcredit and surgical services of rural women and urban slums in
programs provided by NGO not only increase economic Bangladesh.
condition of the rural women but also increases the social,
economic and political empowerment to the rural women. 7. Negative aspect of NGOs
Women who are participating in group savings and credit
programs can start small-scale income generation The working sectors of NGOs, especially in the rural
activities and this economic sustain leads to social and areas, are microcredit, health care, education and so on
economic empowerment. for a long time. So the existing rural people are
The partner role refers to cooperative activities NGOs depending on the NGOs services. Likewise, NGOs have
working with the government, donors and the private made a dependency network for economic and social
sectors, such as providing support in many program or services and tided the poor to maintain the network.
project, starting many socially business. Now, NGOs and “This relationship allows the NGO to inaugurate itself as
Advances in Asian Social Science (AASS) 1187
Vol. 7, No. 2, 2016, Pages: 1182-1188, ISSN: 2167-6429
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www.worldsciencepublisher.org
the friend of the poor. Through rallies and other Finally, NGO operation in are complex, multi-
gatherings, the NGO speaks for the poor—but careful dimensional and changeable in Bangladesh. It is very
consideration will show that this voice is the voice of the difficult to generalize their activity and performances.
patron—in a patron-client relationship” (Karim, 2001). Despites many problems and difficulties of the NGOs,
Moreover, poor people have little capacity to bargain they have the notable success in rural development and
with NGO at the time of getting loan. NGOs have full poverty reduction (Khurshed, 2014). They have also
autonomy to choose selective poor in terms of providing another successful effort to give the credit to the rural
loan and services. They give the loan who are able to pay poor while the traditional banking system failed in 1970
the interest with installment. Even, they only give their to19 90 (McGregor, 1994).They have played a
services who are the receiver of the microcredit but they significant role in social development and make stable
give no consideration those are not receiver. That’s position as a stable player in this country. So, in
means that the NGOs are not accessible organization for conclusion, it is revealing that NGOs’ activity in
all the poor. Bangladesh is positive and good.(Khan, 2015)
So, sometimes some NGO‘s microcredit scheme have
no difference than formal banking system and emergence
as a parallel banking system. Some NGOs are giving loan References
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