Bangla Wikipedia Unconference 2012

Bangla Wikipedia Unconference 2012 is the first ever big-level, conference like outreach event organized by Wikimedia Bangladesh in association with Independent University, Bangladesh, Chittagong and Bangladesh Open Source Network. The event took place on March 2nd and 3rd of 2012, and it was hosted by Independent University Bangladesh in Chittagong. This open event was attended by around 300 participants and a good number of schools, colleges, and universities of Chittagong. The event was named after Bangla Wikipedia to promote the biggest Bengali language Wikimedia project, Bengali Wikipedia. Purpose of the Unconference was to make people aware of Wikipedia and to introduce them to the uses of Wikipedia, Wikipedia editing, and to develop wiki culture and awareness.

Background

Since the formation of Wikimedia Bangladesh, it was planned to launch big outreach programs to let general people know about Wikipedia and Wikimedia in Bangladesh. Most of the people of Bangladesh still don't know that they have a Wikipedia in their own language; many of those who know about Bangla Wikipedia, do not know that anyone can contribute to the encyclopedia; and many of those who know that they can edit, do not know where to start or how to start editing. This outreach event was planned to answer all these questions to the attendees and encourage everyone in Bangladesh to contribute to Wikipedia, as the motto of the event was: aamar bhashay tule dhari, aamar bhalo lagar sab kichhu (Bangla pronunciation) which means, let's present whatever we like in our own language (unofficial translation).

Events

Time	Event
Day 1
08:00-09:30	Spot registration
09:30-11:00	Inaugural ceremony Inaugurated by, Mohammad Monjurul Alam, Mayor, Chittagong City Corporation
11:30-01:00	Quiz contest
11:30-01:00	Workshop — How to read and write Bangla in computer and mobile devices Conductors: Tanvir Rahman Ali Haidar Khan Tanweer Morshed
02:00-03:30	Open seminar on Role of Wikipedia in mass education Moderator: Dr. Masud Mahmud, Speaker: William Wolf, Senior English Language Fellow, Independent University, Chittagong
02:00-03:30	Workshop — How to contribute to Bangla Wikipedia Conductors: Tanvir Rahman Tanweer Morshed Ali Haidar Khan
03:30-04:30	Open discussion on Wikipedia Moderator: Munir Hasan
04:30-07:00	Open film screening — Amar Bondhu Rashed
Day 2
Time	Event
09:30-11:00	Workshop — How to contribute to Bangla Wikipedia Conductors: Tanweer Morshed Shabab Mustafa Tanvir Rahman
11:00-01:00	Open seminar on Wikipedia and social networking Moderator: Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Speaker: Sumon Jahan
04:00-04:30	Open discussion with Muhammad Zafar Iqbal
04:30-05:30	Quiz contest — Final round
04:30-05:30	Closing ceremony and presentation ceremony Cheif Guest: Yafes Osman, State Minister for Science and Technology, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Special Guests: Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, Professor, Dept. of CSE & EEE, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Dr. Yasmeen Haque, Head of the Department of Physics at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
05:30-07:00	Cultural programs