Multipurpose community telecenters in rural Bangladesh: A study of selected Union Information and Service Centers. (January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rahman, Taiabur; Bhuiyan, Shahjahan H.
• Is Part Of: Information development. Volume 32:Number 1(2016)
• Page Start: 5
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2016-01
• Subjects: telecenters -- community telecenters -- rural development -- socio-economic development -- Bangladesh; Library science -- Periodicals; Information science -- Periodicals; 020.5
• DOI: 10.1177/0266666913518445
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-6669

Abstract

This paper reviews and analyzes the development of Multipurpose Community Telecenters (MCTs) in rural Bangladesh. The core of the paper builds on bringing together relevant literature review and field study. The findings of the paper suggest that the development of telecenters in Bangladesh is still in its formative stage. MCTs have fared well in improving rural people's livelihood at large, and the emerging middle class have been the major beneficiaries. Evidence suggests that the telecenters did not work much for the hardcore poor. The paper argues that MCTs as knowledge hubs have facilitated not only narrowing the digital divide but also contributing to the socio-economic development of rural Bangladesh.