, April 8 -- Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md. Zahid Hossain on Wednesday told Parliament that 60,286 voluntary social welfare agencies are actively operating in the country.

"As many as 71,591 voluntary social welfare agencies are registered by the Social Services Department. Out of these, 60,286 agencies are currently listed as active and 11,305 agencies are defunct," he said while replying to a scripted question from treasury bench lawmaker Md Showkatul Islam (Maulvibazar-2) in the House.

The voluntary agencies were registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961, he said.

The minister said one-time grants are provided from the Bangladesh National Social Welfare Council in favour...