A Workshop on Nationwide Internet Access and Online Applications 2225 May 2004, Dhaka, Bangladesh

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A Workshop on Nationwide Internet Access and
Online Applications22-25 May 2004, Dhaka,
Bangladesh

• Presented by Shahjahan Siraj
• Team leader, Drik MultimediaContact
  siraj_at_drik.netURL www.drik.net

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• Drik is a photography, internet and media
  resource centre based in Dhaka.
• Since inception Drik has continued to work for
  social justice, good governance, equality and
  human rights through internet, media, research
  and photojournalism.
• The Sanskrit word Drik means vision. 14 years
  ago at 4th September of 1989, it was set up by a
  small group of media practitioners living and
  working in the majority world with common vision,
  images for change.

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• Social commitment is central to Driks work
  ethos.
• Its professional team making up the
• Picture library
• Photo lab
• Photo studio
• Art gallery
• Audio-visual
• Publication
• Multimedia and
• internet departments
• The educational wing Pathshala is a school of
  photojournalism and Out of focus a media and
  photography education for working class children.

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• DrikTAP is the first e.mail introducing
  initiative in Bangladesh, was set up in April
  1994.
• It provided multifunctional electronic mail to
  link field workers, local and international
  organizations, as well as governments,
  educational institutions and individuals.

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• It was the largest node in Toolnet, a development
  network to exchange of information, experiences,
  expertise and solutions to technical problems
  between southern partners.
• DrikTAP, helped to introduce full-fledged
  internet in Bangladesh.

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• Having pioneered the introduction of email into
  Bangladesh, Drik continues to take the lead in
  new media, through not only the launch of the
  nation's first webzine Meghbarta, the country
  portal Orientation, online presentation Power
  of Culture, Positivelives and the country's human
  rights portal Banglarights.

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• majorityworld.com an online photo archive and
  Chobi Mela, South Asias festival of photography.
  Drik Partnership is a global conglomerate
  consisting of some of the most innovative
  organisations in Asia, Africa and Europe.
• It regularly hosts in online all important
  exhibitions including thematic yearly calendar
  having the contemporary social message.

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• Banglarights , Shahidul News, Mukabala,
  UnnayanNews are the online news network from
  Dirk
• ShobakNews, Meghbarta, Bytesforall are initiated
  from Drik, but now independent, famous online
  platform.
• All are champion to make global network, covering
  democracy, human rights, media, good governance
  and development issues

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• It was setup to provide a low cost alternative
  for activists, unable to get their news and
  features into mainstream media, the webzine has
  become one of the few platforms which give a
  voice to the voiceless.
• The magazine has successful on issues of gender
  and class and become a seat of resistance against
  social oppression.
• The magazine now runs on an independent basis
  both financially and editorially.

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• Chobi Mela holds biannually in Dhaka, Bangladesh,
  the month-long festival brings together a wide
  range of exhibitions covering the breadth of
  current photography practices from around the
  world.

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• The theme of the festival' 2000 was "The War We
  Forgot" and festival' 2002 was "Exclusion". Chobi
  Mela III will be held in December 2004 both in
  offline and online under the theme "Resistance".
• Chobi Mela is an attempt not only to create an
  understanding of the present state of photography
  in the region, but also to deconstruct current
  photographic practices (cultural representation,
  takeovers by Getty and Gates, implications of
  digital technology), on the basis of wider
  influences, particularly that of globalisation.

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• Positive Lives focuses on the human stories of
  those at the heart of the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
  By sharing these stories we hope to face and
  challenge the myths and prejudices about HIV.
• The original Positive Lives project was launched
  in the UK. Chapters for Bangladesh and India were
  curated by Drik. Later Drik has been involved in
  the Malaysian chapter as well as in the
  international and regional tour of the
  exhibition.

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• It was hosted in online parallel with exhibition
  in gallery at February 1999.
• Since 1993 the exhibition are touring worldwide
  to make social consciousness worldwide.
• Please visit www.positivelives.com and
  www.drik.net/positivelives

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• Drik Partnership is a partnership between five
  international media groups.
• The partnership aims to increase understanding
  between cultures through the exchange of young
  professionals, while helping strengthen the
  professionalism in the partner organizations
  through synergistic projects.

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• The partnership consists of Drik in Dhaka,
  Bangladesh Sørvis in Risør Norway Samso in
  Harare Zimbabwe Business Times Group in Dar es
  Salaam, Tanzania and Uganda Home Pages in
  Kampala, Uganda.
• The partnership was founded in Risør, Norway in
  January 2001 and was approved as a partner of the
  Norwegian exchange programme, Fredskorpset.

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• The Power of Culture, is a photographic and
  cultural presentation and joint effort of Drik
  and Zeezeilen.
• It focused the cultural heritage and traditions
  of Bangladesh which translated into Dutch
  language also.
• It was the result of the workshop to students of
  Pathshala on Internet, Photography and Context"
  at 6 - 7th August 2002.
• Since 1996 the power of culture global site is
  highlighting the cultural diversity and showing
  flag to solve the cultural conflicts.

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• Migrantsoul is media, photography and research
  output on the migrant rights and situation of
  immigrant from developing country people in
  developed countries
• The migrant worker has brought in billions of
  Taka to Bangladesh, but they are still seen as
  second class citizens, internationally and within
  their own nation. This is an attempt to
  understand the dreams and the realities of the
  migrant soul.

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• www.majorityworld.com is a web-based image bank
  that combines the continually growing and diverse
  image resources of the Drik Partnership, with a
  state-of-the-art delivery mechanism of broad band
  Internet.
• More than 150 thousands photographs will be put
  in its online achieve in order to are being
  scanning for the online photo bank

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• After a successful workshop on February 2001 on
  "Effective Use of the Media and the Internet to
  Promote Human Rights", a group of journalists
  decided to launch Bangladesh's first Human Rights
  web-portal www.banglarights.net.
• Banglarights actively promotes human rights
  reforms both within Bangladesh and across
  geopolitical boundaries, and supports women,
  children, and marginalized communities in
  resisting social oppression.

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• Use of Wi-Fi and 'touch screen' technology for
  e-health and e-governance, and building a country
  postal with TIG are its ongoing ICT projects.
• Drik always appreciates and practices the latest
  high tech in its projects with the spirit of
  change.
• Both online and substantial collaboration of
  Drik, Out of Focus, and Pathshala with world
  leading organisations make a inspirational
  example in Bangladeshi media, ICT, human rights
  and development sectors.

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• Journey is not finished, going on ..
• Thank you