Rural Information Provision in Bangladesh: A Study on Development Research Network

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the rural information provision in Bangladesh and to examine users’ opinion regarding such information provision with a case study of Development Research Network (D.Net)- a non government organization. Besides the review of secondary sources, data were collected using an unstructured interview of eight officials of selected Pallitathya Kendra (rural information centre) of D.Net. The case study also conducted a survey of 120 rural dwellers from the selected centres of D.Net to receive their opinions using a structured questionnaire. The analysis suggests that D.Net provides rural dwellers of Bangladesh access to information through a number of innovative programmes and services with special reference to Pallitathya programme and InfoLady Services. The result also shows that ninety percent of the respondents are more or less satisfied with the existing programmes and services of D.Net. The study, however, makes certain recommendations for more effective and efficient rural information provision in Bangladesh made by D.Net.

Keywords: Rural information, development research network, D.Net, Pallitathya Kendra, InfoLady, Bangladesh.