D.Net congratulates honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for launching Union Infomration and Service Centres (UISCs) in all 4501 union parishad complexes across the country. This is a historical milestone not only for Bangladesh, but for the whole world. D.Net takes pride to introduce the concept of public access to ICTs for rural people for improving their livelihood and empowerment.

With a dream to contribute towards building a knowledge society D.Net started its journey in 2001. One of its major endeavours was to integrate ICTs in daily lives of common people and the means towards that end was experimenting Pallitathya model, a system of public access to ICTs for accessing information and ICT based services. The model was proven successful in 2007. D.Net’s campaign for establishment of information centre in local government institutions, particularly in union parishad complexes was based on successful operation of the first Pallitathya Kendra (Rural Information Centre) in union parishad (UP) complex launched in 2005 in Charbata Union of Subarna Char Union, Noakhali District. The then Chairman of the UP and current Upazilla Chaiman of Subarna Char Mr. AHM Khairul Anam Chowdhury Selim came forward to host the Pallitathya Kendra operated by Digonter Dak, alocal NGO. D.Net provided know-how, technical support and financial support was provided by Manshuer Jonno Foundation. He urged the government in an interview in 2006 that public-private partnership can be a good approach for establishment of such centre in all UPs and it can do revolutionary changes in the rural landscape. It was a dream. And it is easy to say but difficult to realize.

That dream has finally become true and on November 11, 2010, honourable Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina launched 4501 UISCs across the country through a video conferencing with an UISC in Char Kukri-Mukri with Ms. Helen Clarke, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and Administrator of UNDP and Arc. Yeafesh Osman, honourable State Minister for Science and ICT. We are not bothered whether or how much our contribution is being recognized, we happy that such phenomenal achievement is being made.

On this grand occasion, we would like show our gratitude to all of our development partners who believed in D.Net and provided financial and moral support to our endeavors. We are grateful to all of our local partners and knowledge workers (Infomediary, Mobilelady, Infolady and Centre Manger) who worked hard to make this dream noticeable to all.

Congratulations to all current and former colleagues of D.Net on this great success. This is one single achievement for 10 years of hard work of all colleagues at D.Net since 2001.

D.Net is now working on another dream project – creating an army of infoladies across the country, who provide ICT-based services at the door-step of village people and earn a decent livelihood.