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In an effort to connect Bangladesh villages with the information superhighway, Grameen Telecom (GTC) has initiated pilot internet kiosks in rural areas. The Grameen Kiosk program went live in May 2005, with installation of three kiosks in Mirzapur area of Tangail district, 70 kms from Dhaka. In addition 20 experimental kiosks have been set up with EDGE enabled mobile handsets, supported by Grameen Phone’s GPRS facility.
With loans from Grameen Bank, three GB members in Mahera, Fatehpur and Pakulla branches, bought computers, printers, webcams, UPS, and other accessories following guidelines and technical support from GTC. Grameen provided them with the internet connectivity infrastructure by building radio links to Mahera and Fatehpur and a cable connection between Mahera and Pakulla. Grameen Communications is the internet service provider (ISP) for the operations, providing connections from their Grameen Digital Center at Mirzapur.
The Grameen Kiosk operators sell computer and internet access to the villagers, who can browse the web, e-mail friends and family, chat online, send photographs, print various forms and documents, collect information, such as results of national school exams, etc. Currently GK operators earn between Tk.500-1,000 per week.
The first ever bride and bridegroom wedded over the Internet at the Grameen Kiosk of Fatehpur Bazar in Mirzapur, Tangail |
Recently the Fatehpur Grameen Kiosk, run by GB member Mr. Haidar Ali, made worldwide news by facilitating an international wedding. Two villagers, Mr. Abdul Latif Mian and Mr. Sanowar Hossain negotiated marriage on the internet between their son and daughter, Alhaj Mian and Smriti Akhtar. Since Alhaj Mian lives in Singapore and could not arrange leave from work to come home, the parents decided to go high-tech and marry the children through internet. On December 4, 2005, Smriti Akhtar came to the Grameen Kiosk dressed beautifully in bridal red sari and ornaments. The bride, the guardians and village elders all sat around the webcam in Fatehpur. Alhaj Mian, dressed as a traditional Bangladeshi groom, sat in front of another webcam in Singapore. The monitors broadcast the live images from two locations thousands of miles apart, as the bride and groom exchanged their marriage vows. Later Smriti Akhtar commented that when she was talking to Alhaj Mian through the webcam, it felt like he was sitting right next to her.
The parents gladly split the Tk.500 cost for hosting the high-tech wedding, solemnized through the Grameen Kiosk at Fatehpur.
GTC is trying to establish a viable business model for village based internet kiosks. Once the model becomes financially viable, it plans to expand the Grameen Kiosks all over the country.
Report by Tamim Islam |
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