Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/General Support Fund/Wikimedia Bangladesh Annual activities 2025-26

statusUnder review

Wikimedia Community Fund

Wikimedia Bangladesh Annual activities 2025-26

Fluxx IDR-GS-2503-18471

start date2025-07-01

end date2026-06-30

budget (local currency)6545000 BDT

amount requested (USD)54978 USD

grant typeWikimedia Affiliate (chapter, thematic org., or user group)

funding regionSA

decision fiscal year2024-25

funding program roundRound 2

organization (if applicable)Wikimedia Bangladesh Foundation

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Applicant information

Organization name or Wikimedia Username for individuals. (required)

Wikimedia Bangladesh Foundation

Do you have any approved General Support Fund requests? (required)

No, it is my first time applying for a General Support Fund

You are applying as a(n). (required)

Wikimedia Affiliate (chapter, thematic org., or user group)

Are your group or organization legally registered in your country? (required)

Yes

Do you have a fiscal sponsor?

Yes

Fiscal organization name.

Kiwix

Please provide links to the following documents if they are available

These documentation can be provided in your local language(s), no translations required.

• Organizational website
• Detailed financial reporting and/or audits
• Documentation of the governance structure, board list, governance processes
• Documentation of the general assembly decision on your plan

Organizational website: www.wikimedia.org.bd

Main proposal

1. Please state the title of your proposal. This will also be a title for the Meta-Wiki page. (required)

Wikimedia Bangladesh Annual activities 2025-26

2. Do you want to apply for the multi-year base funding for 3 years? (required) (only for returning applicants)

N/A

2.1. Provide a brief overview of Year 2 and Year 3 of the proposed plan and how this relates to the current proposal and your strategic plan? (required)

N/A

3. Proposed start date. (required)

2025-07-01

4. Proposed end date. (required)

2026-06-30

5. Does your organization or group have an Affiliate or Organizational Annual Plan that can help us understand your proposal? If yes, please provide it. (required)

Yes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z6bZhUUBL_jFxiLu85mwXkoWEQJC6poWZclG7ljwJVA/edit

6. Does your affiliate, organization or group have a Strategic Plan that can help us understand your proposal? If yes, please provide it. (required)

Yes

https://wikimedia.org.bd/about-us/about-wikimedia-bangladesh

7. Where will this proposal be implemented? (required)

Bangladesh

8. What are your programs, approaches, and strategies? What are the challenges that you are trying to address and how will your strategies support you in addressing these challenges? (required)

Wikimedia Bangladesh (WMBD) has developed a comprehensive set of programs and strategies to enhance the representation of Bangladeshi culture, history, and language across Wikimedia platforms. Our initiatives focus on GLAM, Education, Advocacy, Partnerships, Community-Led Initiatives, and Sustainability & Impact. These programs aim to address key challenges such as low participation, content gaps, and policy restrictions while ensuring long-term growth and engagement in the Wikimedia movement.

To advocate for open knowledge, WMBD engages in policy advocacy and public awareness campaigns. Our efforts include promoting FoP and working with policymakers to support copyright reforms that allow free access to cultural and historical content. Additionally, we collaborate with government institutions to encourage the release of public domain materials and organize awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of open knowledge and digital freedom.

Our GLAM initiatives play a crucial role in preserving Bangladesh’s cultural heritage. We collaborate with libraries, museums, and archives to digitize and upload historical documents, artifacts, and images to Wikimedia Commons and books to Wikisource. Programs like Wiki Loves Bangla, an international photography competition, and organized photowalks contribute to the documentation and preservation of Bengali heritage. These efforts ensure that valuable cultural assets remain accessible to a global audience.

In the field of education and capacity building, WMBD partners with universities and schools to integrate Wikimedia projects into academic curricula. We conduct workshops, edit-a-thons, and research-based activities to engage students and researchers in content creation. Skill development programs, such as WikiCamps, ToT, mentor new contributors in Wikipedia editing, content curation, and digital preservation. Additionally, the Good Article Review Campaign focuses on improving the quality of Bangla Wikipedia articles by training editors on content enhancement and peer review.

To strengthen the Wikimedia community, WMBD supports community-led initiatives that encourage broader participation. Programs such as the Amar Ekushey Article Contest engage volunteers in enriching Bangla Wikipedia with high-quality content. The Bangla Wikibooks and Wikiquote Contests foster the development of educational and literary content, while projects like Wiki Loves Women and Wiki Loves Children address gender and knowledge gaps by promoting underrepresented voices. Regional meetups, workshops, and volunteer engagement activities help sustain community involvement and strengthen local Wikimedia networks.

Ensuring the sustainability and long-term impact of our initiatives is a key priority. WMBD invests in contributor training, mentorship programs, and community engagement to build a self-sustaining editor base. We monitor participation, content contributions, and program effectiveness through data analysis and impact assessments. Strengthening partnerships with institutions, policymakers, and media organizations further enhances the reach and influence of Wikimedia Bangladesh.

Despite our progress, several challenges remain. Low participation and editor retention require targeted training and mentorship programs to encourage sustained involvement. The lack of access to public domain content presents barriers to cultural preservation, which we address through advocacy efforts with policymakers and government institutions. Gender and knowledge gaps persist, which is why WMBD continues to implement initiatives like Wiki Loves Women to increase diversity among contributors. Additionally, limitations imposed by Bangladesh’s copyright policies on cultural content necessitate ongoing legal research, policy discussions, and advocacy campaigns to push for necessary reforms.

By addressing these challenges through a combination of advocacy, strategic partnerships, community engagement, and sustainable capacity-building efforts, Wikimedia Bangladesh aims to ensure that Bangla-language content remains freely accessible, widely represented, and continuously improved across Wikimedia platforms. Through these approaches, we are committed to fostering a thriving, inclusive Wikimedia movement in Bangladesh.

9. What categories are your main programs and related activities under? Please select all that apply. (required)

Category	Yes/No
Education	Yes
Culture, heritage or GLAM	Yes
Gender and diversity	Yes
Community support and engagement	Yes
Participation in campaigns and contests	Yes
Public policy advocacy	Yes
Other	No

Education

9.1.1. Select all your programs and activities for Education. (required)

Wiki Club, Wiki Camp, Editing Wikipedia Training, Translation, Research, Wikidata programs, Wikimedia Commons programs, Other Wikimedia project programs

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

9.1.2. Select all relevant audience groups for Education. (required)

Primary school students, Secondary school students, Vocational, tertiary, or higher education, Teachers or professors

Other groups if any: N/A

Culture, heritage or GLAM

9.2. Select all your programs and activities for Culture, heritage or GLAM. (required)

Documenting or incubating languages on Wikimedia projects, Introducing new approaches to underrepresented culture and heritage, e.g. decolonising or reparative work; oral and visual knowledge; outreach to communities of origin, indigenous and first nations self-determination, Supporting institutions to open up their collections, data, metadata, and research, Partnering with institutions, professional associations, and allied organizations to raise awareness of open culture, ethical sharing, and related issues

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Gender and diversity

9.3. Select all your programs and activities for Gender and diversity.

Bringing in women and/or gender diverse participants and editors, Focusing on creating content about women and/or gender diverse groups, including biographies, intersectional topic areas and/or adding images, Focusing on creating content about marginalized (underrepresented) communities and their knowledge, Focusing on knowledge equity by bringing in contributors from underrepresented communities, Building organizer skills in women and diversity groups, Fomenting female leadership within the movement (either staff, members or boards)

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Community support and engagement

9.4. Select all your programs and activities for Community support and engagement.

On-wiki training of community members, Off-wiki training of community members, Organizing meetups, conferences, and community events, Supporting community members' participation in events and conferences, Offering micro-funding and other financial support to community members , Offering non financial support and services to community members (equipment, space, books, etc.)

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Participation in campaigns and contests

9.5. Select all campaigns that apply. (required)

Wikipedia Asian Month, Wikipedia Birthday or Anniversary

Other programs and activities if any: N/A

Public policy advocacy

9.6.1. What specific laws, or legislative topics, are you targeting with your advocacy plans? Please be as specific as possible. (required)

absence of a clear provision on Freedom of Panorama (FOP). FOP is essential for allowing the free use of images of public buildings, sculptures, and artworks in public spaces without copyright restrictions. The lack of FOP in Bangladesh’s copyright law creates barriers for content creators, researchers, and digital platforms like Wikimedia, restricting access to freely available cultural and architectural heritage.

We aim to advocate for an amendment to the Copyright Act to include explicit provisions for Freedom of Panorama, aligning Bangladesh’s law with international best practices. Additionally, we plan to address ambiguities related to the public domain, fair use policies, and open licensing, ensuring the law supports educational, creative, and digital content-sharing initiatives while protecting the rights of original creators.

9.6.2. What are the main methods and tactics via which you plan to advocate for this public policy change? Please be as specific as possible. (required)

We plan to advocate for this policy change through a multi-faceted approach:

1. Stakeholder Engagement – Engaging with policymakers, legal experts, and relevant government bodies to highlight the importance of Freedom of Panorama (FOP) and necessary copyright reforms.
2. Research & Policy Recommendations – Conducting research, publishing reports, and drafting policy recommendations to demonstrate the benefits of FOP and open licensing.
3. Public Awareness Campaigns – Organizing workshops, webinars, and social media campaigns to educate the public, content creators, and legal professionals on copyright limitations and necessary reforms.
4. Collaboration with Wikimedia & Cultural Institutions – Partnering with Wikimedia communities, museums, and educational institutions to advocate for free knowledge and digital accessibility.
5. Media & Advocacy Outreach – Engaging journalists, writing op-eds, and utilizing media coverage to generate public discourse on the issue.

These combined efforts will help drive policy discussions and establish a legal framework that supports open access to cultural heritage.

9.6.3. Approximately, how much of the requested budget will you dedicate to public policy advocacy (local currency)?

200000

10. Please include a link to or upload a timeline (operational calendar) for your programs and activities. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TOYX2gmPFTURSJUAIWLvrVdhZwtN9pKP8VulTFvrpGg/

11. Describe your team. (required)

Contractors

• Program Coordinator – Rocky Masum: Responsible for ensuring that all programs align with the organization’s strategic goals while fostering collaboration among stakeholders. He will oversee program implementation, provide strategic guidance to the team, and ensure the successful execution of key initiatives. A dedicated Wikimedian since 2013, he has been actively involved in nearly all Wikimedia Bangladesh initiatives. He previously served as the chapter’s Treasurer and General Secretary. Additionally, he brings professional experience from working with several international non-profit organizations, further strengthening his expertise in program management and community engagement.
• Program Associates: Two associates will be recruited at a later stage. They will be responsible for administrative tasks, communications, and documentation to ensure the efficient operation of Wikimedia Bangladesh’s programs.

Volunteers

• Shabab Mustafa: Serves as the strategic and technical lead of Wikimedia Bangladesh. As the current president of the chapter, he has been leading the organization since its establishment in 2011 and has served three terms, including two consecutive terms.
• Moheen: Will coordinate Wiki Loves Bangla 2026 and contribute to various Wikimedia Bangladesh initiatives. He is the founder and lead of the Chattogram Wikimedia Community and has been an active Wikimedian since 2013.
• Dolon Prova: Will lead efforts to bridge the gender gap within Wikimedia projects. She is the founder and lead of the Mymensingh Wikimedia Community and has been actively contributing to Wikimedia since 2013.
• Tahmid: An active Wikipedian since 2017 and one of the most dedicated young contributors from Bangladesh. He currently leads the Rajshahi Wikimedia Community, playing a key role in organizing local Wikimedia activities and fostering community engagement.
• Yahya & MdsShakil: Will lead the Bangla Connect team, facilitating collaboration and outreach. Both have extensive experience in organizing on-wiki and off-wiki activities to strengthen and expand the Wikimedia community in Bangladesh.

12. Will you be working with any internal (Wikimedia) or external partners? Describe the characteristics of these partnerships and bring a few examples of the most significant partnerships. (required)

Wikimedia Bangladesh actively collaborates with both internal and external partners to advance its mission of preserving and promoting Bangla culture and heritage through digital platforms.

One of our key partners is Bangla WikiMoitree, an international network that coordinates Wikimedia efforts related to Bengali culture and heritage. This collaboration enables us to leverage a diverse range of expertise and resources, bringing together individuals and organizations committed to the promotion of the Bengali language, culture, and historical legacy.

We also maintain a strong partnership with the **West Bengal Wikimedians User Group**, another vital member of the Bangla WikiMoitree network. By sharing resources, exchanging expertise, and engaging communities, we work together to achieve our shared objectives in preserving and expanding Bengali-language content on Wikimedia projects.

A notable example of our collaborative initiatives is the annual international photography competition, Wiki Loves Bangla. This event serves as a global platform to document and showcase various aspects of Bengali language, culture, and heritage through freely licensed digital photography. By working closely with our partners, we maximize community engagement, enhancing the impact and reach of this initiative.

Beyond Wikimedia-affiliated collaborations, we actively partner with:

1. Libraries, museums, and archives – to digitize and share Bangladesh’s cultural heritage, ensuring broader accessibility.
2. Educational institutions – to organize workshops, education programs, and edit-a-thons that encourage students and researchers to contribute to Wikimedia projects.
3. Digital rights groups and cultural organizations – to promote open knowledge, digital freedom, and policies that support free access to information.
4. Media outlets and cultural organizations – to raise awareness about Wikimedia projects and engage the public in knowledge-sharing activities.

Looking ahead, we aim to collaboration with government bodies – to advocate for open access policies and support the release of public domain materials that enrich Wikimedia content. We also aim to further expand our partnerships, particularly in addressing the gender gap and promoting educational initiatives in Bangladesh. Through these collaborations, we strive to strengthen collective efforts in preserving and disseminating Bangla culture and heritage across Wikimedia platforms, ensuring long-term sustainability and inclusivity in the Wikimedia movement.

13. In what ways do you think your proposal most contributes to the Movement Strategy 2030 recommendations. Select all that apply. (required)

Increase the Sustainability of Our Movement, Provide for Safety and Inclusion, Ensure Equity in Decision-making, Coordinate Across Stakeholders, Invest in Skills and Leadership Development, Manage Internal Knowledge, Identify Topics for Impact, Innovate in Free Knowledge, Evaluate, Iterate, and Adapt

Metrics

Wikimedia Metrics

14. Please select and fill out Wikimedia Metrics for your proposal. (recommended)

14.1. Number of participants, editors, and organizers.

All metrics provided are optional, please fill them out if they are aligned with your programs and activities.

Participants, editors, and organizers

Metrics name	Target	Description
Number of all participants	900	Our target is to engage around thousand of participants in a variety of activities, including edit-a-thons, article contests, photo contests, awareness-building sessions, and more.
Number of all editors	200	We expect around 200 participants to contribute by creating at least one article or uploading one photo across all activities, comprising 150 new editors and 50 retained editors.
Number of new editors	150
Number of retained editors	50
Number of all organizers	20	According to the plan, approximately 20 organizers will be actively involved in running the activities. Additionally, we aim to onboard 5 new organizers through our various activities.
Number of new organizers	5

14.2. Number of new content contributions to Wikimedia projects. (recommended)

Contributions to Wikimedia projects

Wikimedia project	Created	Edited or improved
Wikipedia	500	50
Wikimedia Commons	1000	100
Wikidata	100	100
Wiktionary	100
Wikisource	5000
Wikimedia Incubator
Translatewiki
MediaWiki
Wikiquote	100
Wikivoyage	200	20
Wikibooks	200
Wikiversity
Wikinews
Wikispecies
Wikifunctions / Abstract Wikipedia

Description for Wikimedia projects contributions metrics. (optional)

Other Metrics

15. Do you have other quantitative and qualitative targets for your project (other metrics)? (required)

No

Other Metrics	Description	Target
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A
N/A	N/A	N/A

Budget

16. Will you have any other revenue sources when implementing this proposal (e.g. other funding, membership contributions, donations)? (required)

Yes

16.1. List other revenue sources. (required)

• Annual Membership Fee.

16.2. Approximately how much revenue will you have from other sources in your local currency? (required)

20000

17. Your local currency. (required)

BDT

18. What is the total requested amount in your local currency? (required)

6545000 BDT

Multi-year funding request summary

Year	Amount (local currency)
Year 1	N/A BDT
Year 2	N/A BDT
Year 3	N/A BDT

Requested amount in USD

54978 USD

Multi-year funding request summary in USD

Year	Amount USD
Year 1	N/A USD
Year 2	N/A USD
Year 3	N/A USD

19. Does this proposal include compensation for staff or contractors? (required)

Yes

19.1. How many paid staff members do you plan to have? (required)

Include the number of staff and contractors during the proposal period. If you have short-term contractors or staff, please include them separately and mention their terms.

03 Contractors.

19.2. How many FTEs (full-time equivalents) in total? (required)

Include the total FTE of staff and contractors during the proposal period. If you have short-term contractors or staff, please include their FTEs with the terms separately.

03

19.3. Describe any staff or contractor changes compared to the current year / ongoing General Support Fund if any. (required only for returning grantees)

N/A

20. Please provide an overview of your overall budget categories in your local currency. The budget breakdown should include only the amount requested with this General Support Fund (required).

Budget category	Amount in local currency
Staff and contractor costs	1820000 BDT
Operational costs	880000 BDT
Programmatic costs	3250000 BDT

21. Please upload your budget for this proposal or indicate the link to it. (required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1c2uWOGNz07WsFYHo-7QuYtU1hVz3pFzq/edit

Additional information

22. In this optional space you can add any other additional information about your proposal or organization that you think can help us when reviewing your proposal. (optional)

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By submitting your proposal/funding request you agree that you are in agreement with the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and the Universal Code of Conduct.

We/I have read the Application Privacy Statement, WMF Friendly Space Policy and Universal Code of Conduct.

Yes

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