Emerging Trends in Telecentre Sustainability in Bangladesh: Some Observations

In recent times, Bangladesh has become a hotbed for telecentres and community information centres. By providing much-needed technological services like web browsing, video conferencing, email, etc. telecentres play a crucial role in bridging the communication and digital divide between urban and rural areas. However, most of the telecentres are grappling with the problem of sustainability, especially financial sustainability. This article discusses various aspects of the problem of sustainability in the context of rural Bangladesh. By discussing various models of telecentre implementation in Bangladesh, it highlights the issues that are most pertinent for achieving financial, political/ institutional, social/ cultural and technological sustainability of telecentres in Bangladesh. It also puts forward some recommendations for ensuring telecentre sustainability in Bangladesh.