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Bangladesh InfoLadies

By caroline on May 27 2010, last modified on May 27 2010.

Two-wheel triumph

Armed with a netbook, medical supplies and a bicycle, Bangladesh's InfoLadies are giving millions of poor people access to crucial information on their doorsteps that will improve their chances in life.

In a country where over 36% of the country's population lives on less than US$1 a day, InfoLady and telecentre models are successfully trialling self-sustenance by providing ancillary services.

"It cost me 150 Taka [£1.30] in travel and charges to get my blood pressure checked in town," says Mohamed Monir, a Saghatha resident. "Labony does it at home for five." And Sadnul Hossain is happy to pay 1,000 Taka (£13) for a crash-course in MS Office applications at Sagatha telecentre to improve his job prospects. "Before I had only seen computers in books," he says.

The 2009 United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Report says over 36% of the country's population lives on less than US$1 a day , and almost every second child under five is underweight.

The access to information campaign is strategically fronted by women to bridge communication divides.

Now the government is waking up to Digital Bangladesh.