Wikimedia chapters/Reports/Wikimedia Bangladesh/2026/Q2
 | This page reports Wikimedia Bangladesh-related activities and projects organized and/or supported in 2026 (April-June). This report was made by Moheen. |
(April-June)
Overview
The second quarter of 2026 was a highly active period for Wikimedia Bangladesh, marked by significant progress in content creation, community engagement, cultural documentation, educational outreach, GLAM activities, and open-knowledge advocacy. During April–June 2026, the chapter organized and supported 18 activities across multiple areas, including advocacy and policy work, community meetups, content development contests, culture and heritage initiatives, edit-a-thons, GLAM documentation, photowalks, and workshops. Collectively, these activities contributed to the creation of more than 3,167 pages, the upload of over 3,800 media files, and public engagement with more than 1,200 participants and community members through online and offline platforms.
Content development remained one of the strongest areas of the quarter. Major campaigns such as the Bangla Wikiquote Contest 2026 and the Wikibooks Writing Contest 2026 generated substantial contributions across Wikimedia projects, resulting in thousands of new entries and books, along with more than five million words of freely accessible Bengali-language content. A series of edit-a-thons further strengthened content growth and cross-community collaboration, including the Bangla Wikisource Edit-a-thon, International Museum Day Edit-a-thon, Doteli–Bangla–Sanskrit Interwiki Collaborative Edit-a-thon, Wikimedia Commons Edit-a-thon, and local edit-a-thon activities in Dinajpur. These initiatives expanded content coverage across Wikipedia, Wikiquote, Wikibooks, Wikisource, Wikidata, and Wikimedia Commons while encouraging participation from both experienced and new contributors.
The quarter also included important efforts in cultural heritage preservation, scientific documentation, and open media advocacy. Wiki Loves Bangla 2026 continued to strengthen collaboration between Wikimedia communities in Bangladesh and West Bengal by documenting festivals and cultural traditions of Bengal. The GLAM initiative at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University documented valuable scientific, biological, anatomical, and fisheries-related collections, creating freely licensed educational media for public use. Photowalks in Rajshahi and Purbachal documented Pohela Boishakh celebrations, biodiversity, landscapes, and natural heritage. In addition, Wikimedia Bangladesh advanced its advocacy work on Freedom of Panorama through formal engagement with the Bangladesh Copyright Office, strengthening the chapter’s role in copyright policy dialogue and open media rights in Bangladesh.
Community engagement and capacity building remained central priorities throughout the quarter. Regular gatherings such as the Dhaka Wikimedia Meetup and WikiNandini Online Meetup provided spaces for discussion, collaboration, and peer support. Educational outreach initiatives at Daffodil International University, Eden Mohila College, and the monthly Wikipedia Online Workshop introduced students, women participants, and new contributors to Wikimedia projects, digital literacy, information credibility, and free knowledge. Overall, the activities of Q2 2026 demonstrate Wikimedia Bangladesh’s continued commitment to expanding free knowledge, strengthening community participation, preserving cultural and scientific heritage, supporting policy advocacy, and fostering sustainable growth across the Wikimedia movement in Bangladesh.
Activity Statistics
| Activity | Count |
|---|---|
| Advocacy & Policy | 01 |
| Community Engagement | 02 |
| Content Development | 02 |
| Culture & Heritage | 01 |
| Edit-a-thons | 06 |
| GLAM | 01 |
| Photowalks | 02 |
| Workshops | 03 |
| Total | 18 |
Outcomes
|
Pages Created
3,167+
▲ 216.7% compared to Q1 2026 |
Media Uploaded
3,800+
▲ 427.78% compared to Q1 2026 |
Public Engagement
1,200+
▲ 20% compared to Q1 2026 |
Advocacy & Policy
Collaboration with the Bangladesh Copyright Office on Freedom of Panorama (June)
- Coordinated by: Tausheef Hassan, Yahya, Delwar
On 17 June 2026, Wikimedia Bangladesh held a formal meeting with the Bangladesh Copyright Office in Dhaka as part of its ongoing advocacy around Freedom of Panorama and the legal status of photographs of architectural works in Bangladesh. The initiative followed a community-led review of the Copyright Act 2023 and the preparation of formal letters requesting legal clarification on architectural photography and proposing continued collaboration with the Copyright Office. The meeting marked an important step in addressing the uncertainty created after the Freedom of Panorama provision, previously included in the Copyright Act 2000, was not retained in the 2023 Act.
During the meeting, the Copyright Office accepted Wikimedia Bangladesh’s application and discussed the current legal position regarding photography of public architectural works. The office also recognized Wikimedia Bangladesh as the first formal stakeholder organization representing photography and open media in Bangladesh’s copyright policy space. As a result, Wikimedia Bangladesh is expected to be included in future stakeholder consultations on the pending copyright rules, creating an important opportunity to advocate for clear and broad Freedom of Panorama provisions that cover buildings, public sculptures, and monuments. The activity strengthened Wikimedia Bangladesh’s role in copyright policy dialogue and advanced the movement’s broader work for open knowledge, freely licensed media, and public access to cultural documentation.
Community Engagement
Dhaka Wikimedia Meetup (May)
- Coordinated by: MdsShakil
The Dhaka Wikimedia Community organized its monthly Dhaka Wikimedia Meetup on 17 May 2026 at the Wikimedia Bangladesh office. The meetup brought together 13 community members to discuss ongoing activities, share updates, and plan future initiatives related to Bangla Wikipedia (bn.wikipedia.org) and other Wikimedia projects. The gathering provided a space for community members to exchange ideas and participate in discussions about the development of Wikimedia projects in Bangladesh.
Discussions during the meetup covered a range of topics, including current community activities, planning for upcoming meetups and workshops, GLAM-related initiatives, the right to photograph in public spaces, and opportunities for increasing collaboration with Wikimedia communities around the world. Participants also discussed community priorities and future work plans. The meetup helped strengthen community engagement, encourage knowledge sharing, and support coordination among active Wikimedia contributors.
WikiNandini Online Meetup (June)
- Coordinated by: Dolon Prova
WikiNandini organized an online meetup for women Wikimedians on 13 June 2026 as part of its ongoing efforts to support and strengthen the participation of women within the Wikimedia movement. Unlike geographically focused community meetups, this regular online gathering provides a dedicated space for women contributors from different Wikimedia projects to connect, share experiences, and discuss community initiatives in a supportive environment.
The meetup brought together four participants and included discussions on ongoing community activities, contributor engagement, and future plans under the WikiNandini initiative. Participants also exchanged ideas regarding upcoming programs and opportunities for collaboration. The session contributed to fostering peer support, strengthening community connections among women Wikimedians, and encouraging their continued participation in Wikimedia projects.
Content Development
Bangla Quote Contest 2026 (April)
- Coordinated by: MS Sakib
| Entries Created | Participants | Words Contributed | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 830 | 43 | 2,406,964 | 30 days |
The 3rd edition of the Bangla Wikiquote Contest was organized from 1–30 April 2026 to expand content and improve the overall quality of Bangla Wikiquote. Hosted by Bangla WikiConnect, the month-long contest encouraged contributors to collect, curate, and develop sourced quotations on a wide range of topics, helping strengthen the platform as a reliable repository of notable quotations in the Bangla language.
The contest engaged 43 participants, who collectively created 830 entries during the campaign period. The contest also generated a substantial volume of content, with a total word count of 24,06,964 words. Through their contributions, participants significantly enriched Bangla Wikiquote’s content base, expanding coverage across literature, history, culture, science, politics, and other notable subject areas. The initiative not only increased the quantity of available quotations but also supported the improvement of content quality through the addition of verifiable sources and structured formatting.
The contest continued to serve as an effective platform for engaging both new and experienced contributors, encouraging participation in a Wikimedia project that remains relatively underrepresented within the Bangla Wikimedia ecosystem. By promoting the collection and preservation of notable quotations, the initiative contributed to the growth of freely accessible reference content while strengthening community involvement in Bangla Wikiquote. Overall, the Bangla Wikiquote Contest 2026 played an important role in advancing content development, enhancing the usability and richness of Bangla Wikiquote, and supporting the project's long-term growth and sustainability.
Wikibooks Writing Contest 2026 (May-June)
- Coordinated by: MdsShakil
| Books Created | Participants | Words Contributed | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,088 | 50 | 2,811,799 | 34 days |
The fourth edition of the Wikibooks Writing Contest 2026 was organized on Bangla Wikibooks from 1 May to 3 June 2026 with the objective of expanding free educational resources in the Bengali language. Hosted by Bangla WikiConnect, the contest encouraged contributors to create new books and develop structured learning materials across a variety of subjects, supporting the continued growth of Bangla Wikibooks as an open educational platform.
The contest engaged 50 participants, who collectively created 2,088 new books during the campaign period. The contest also generated a substantial volume of content, with a total word count of 28,11,799 words. Through their contributions, participants significantly expanded the volume and diversity of educational content available on Bangla Wikibooks, strengthening its value as a freely accessible learning resource for students, educators, and self-learners.
The initiative continued to serve as an effective platform for promoting the development of open educational resources and encouraging community participation in knowledge creation. Overall, the Wikibooks Writing Contest 2026 contributed to the long-term growth of Bangla Wikibooks, enhanced the availability of Bengali-language learning materials, and advanced the Wikimedia movement’s mission of providing free knowledge for all.
Culture & Heritage
Wiki Loves Bangla 2026 (April-May)
- Coordinated by: Moheen
| Total Uploads | Participants | New Registered | Regions | FPs | QIs | VIs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,906 | 364 | 358 | 03 | 1 | 51 | 00 |
In 2026, Wikimedia Bangladesh, in partnership with West Bengal Wikimedians, jointly organized the third edition of Wiki Loves Bangla under the collaborative banner of Bangla WikiMoitree. The initiative seeks to enrich Wikimedia projects with high-quality, freely licensed media documenting the shared culture, traditions, and heritage of Bengal, a region united by language and history across international borders. As part of the affiliates’ ongoing commitment to cross-border collaboration, the competition continues to be organized annually around a common theme relevant to the cultural and natural heritage of Bengal.
The 2026 edition was held from 14 April to 15 May 2026 and focused on the theme "Bengal Festivals". The campaign encouraged contributors from around the world to document the diverse festivals, celebrations, and cultural traditions observed across the Bengal region. Through photographs capturing cultural, seasonal, religious, and community-based festivities, participants contributed valuable visual documentation of Bengal’s rich and diverse cultural landscape. The competition engaged photographers and Wikimedians from both sides of the border, fostering collaboration and community participation while generating freely licensed media for Wikimedia Commons. The uploaded photographs are expected to strengthen the visual representation of Bengal’s cultural heritage across Wikimedia projects, supporting the improvement of related articles on Wikipedia, Wikivoyage, Wikidata, and other platforms.
At the time of reporting, the jury evaluation process is ongoing and the final results have not yet been announced. An experienced international jury is reviewing the submissions to ensure a fair and transparent assessment process based on the competition criteria.
Beyond content generation, Wiki Loves Bangla 2026 continued to strengthen cross-community collaboration between Bangladeshi and West Bengali Wikimedians, promote documentary photography, and encourage the preservation of cultural heritage through open knowledge. The initiative remains an effective platform for documenting the living traditions of Bengal while advancing the Wikimedia movement’s mission of making knowledge freely accessible to all.
GLAM
GLAM at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (May)
- Coordinated by: Tanweer Morshed
Wikimedia Bangladesh organized the GLAM at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) initiative from 10 to 12 May 2026 at the Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Chattogram. The three-day documentation project aimed to preserve and digitize scientific collections housed within the university and make them freely accessible through Wikimedia platforms. The initiative was part of Wikimedia Bangladesh’s ongoing GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) program, which works with cultural and educational institutions to document and share knowledge under free licenses.
The project focused on documenting collections from the Anatomy Museum under the Department of Anatomy and Histology and the Fisheries Museum under the Faculty of Fisheries. During the documentation process, volunteers captured high-resolution photographs of indigenous and exotic fish species, mollusk shells, preserved bird specimens, traditional fishing equipment, boat models, skeletal collections, taxidermy specimens, preserved organs, embryological specimens, reptiles, and other scientific materials used for teaching and research.
The resulting collection of openly licensed photographs contributes valuable visual resources to Wikimedia Commons and other Wikimedia projects. These materials support the development of educational content in biology, zoology, veterinary science, fisheries, marine studies, and natural history, while helping preserve important scientific collections in digital form.
The initiative strengthened collaboration between Wikimedia Bangladesh and Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, demonstrating the value of partnerships between Wikimedia communities and academic institutions. By making these collections freely available through Wikimedia platforms, the project expanded public access to specialized scientific knowledge and further advanced the Wikimedia movement’s mission of sharing knowledge freely with everyone.
Edit-a-thons
Bangla Wikisource Edit-a-thon 2026 (April)
- Coordinated by: JIBON
The Bangla Wikisource Edit-a-thon 2026 was organized by the Rajshahi Wikimedia Community on 18 April 2026 at the Divisional Government Public Library in Rajshahi. The event brought together Wikimedians to work on Bangla Wikisource (bn.wikisource.org) and learn skills related to digitized texts and free knowledge projects. The initiative aimed to support the growth of Bangla Wikisource while helping participants gain practical experience in contributing to the platform.
The edit-a-thon engaged three participants, who worked together on a range of Wikisource-related activities. Participants learned how to create book indexes on Bangla Wikisource using files from Wikimedia Commons and how to create and manage related items on Wikidata. Through collaborative editing and knowledge sharing, the event helped improve participants’ technical skills and contributed to the ongoing development of Bangla Wikisource as a freely accessible collection of Bengali texts.
International Museum Day Edit-a-thon 2026 (May)
- Coordinated by: Moheen
| Articles Created | Participants | Words Contributed | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 26 | 50,037 | 7 Days |
.png)
Museums play a crucial role in preserving cultural heritage, promoting education, and fostering mutual understanding among communities. In celebration of International Museum Day, the Chattogram Wikimedia Community organized the 3rd edition of the International Museum Day Edit-a-thon 2026 on Bangla Wikipedia (bn.wikipedia.org). The initiative encouraged contributors to document museums and related cultural heritage topics, helping improve the availability of freely accessible information on Bangla Wikipedia while raising awareness about the importance of preserving cultural institutions and their histories.
The edit-a-thon brought together 26 participants, including 3 female contributors, who collaboratively created 95 new articles on museums from 21 countries across Asia during the campaign period. The contest also generated a substantial volume of content, with a total word count of 50,037 words. Through their contributions, participants expanded coverage of museums and heritage-related topics, strengthening Bangla Wikipedia’s role as a reliable source of information on cultural institutions, collections, and historical heritage.
The initiative demonstrated the value of collaborative content creation in preserving and sharing cultural knowledge. By improving documentation on museums and heritage-related subjects, the edit-a-thon contributed to expanding free knowledge resources, encouraging community participation, and supporting Wikimedia’s mission to make knowledge accessible to everyone.
International Museum Day Edit-a-thon 2026, Dinajpur (May)
To complement the online edit-a-thon, Wikimedia Bangladesh also organized an on-site edit-a-thon on 18 May 2026 at the Cultural Academy of Ethnic Minorities in Dinajpur. The event brought together five participants, including three newcomers to Wikimedia activities, and provided hands-on training on Wikipedia editing and museum-related content creation. Participants created and improved articles on museums from different countries, while also documenting the venue’s local museum through photography. In addition to editing activities, discussions were held on Wikimedia’s GLAM initiatives and opportunities for documenting museums and cultural heritage institutions in the Dinajpur region. The onsite gathering helped introduce new contributors to Wikimedia projects, encouraged local community engagement, and reinforced the broader objectives of the International Museum Day campaign by combining content creation, cultural documentation, and community outreach.
Doteli–Bangla–Sanskrit Interwiki Collaborative Edit-a-thon 2026 (June)
- Coordinated by: Dolon Prova, Anup Sadi
| Articles Created | Participants | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 147 | 23 | 10 Days |
The Doteli–Bangla–Sanskrit Interwiki Collaborative Edit-a-thon 2026 was organized from 8–17 June 2026 as a joint initiative of the Doteli (dty.wikipedia.org), Bangla, and Sanskrit Wikipedia communities. The campaign aimed to strengthen collaboration among contributors from different language communities while promoting the creation and translation of encyclopedic content across Wikimedia projects. By bringing together Wikimedians from Bangladesh, Nepal, and India, the initiative encouraged cross-cultural exchange and facilitated the sharing of knowledge across linguistic boundaries.
The ten-day campaign engaged 23 participants, who collectively created 147 articles across the participating language Wikipedias. Participants worked on a curated list of topics covering language, culture, history, and other notable subjects, contributing to the expansion of freely accessible knowledge in underrepresented languages. The initiative demonstrated the value of interwiki cooperation in fostering content growth, strengthening relationships among Wikimedia communities, and advancing the Wikimedia movement’s mission of making knowledge freely accessible across languages and cultures.
Wikimedia Commons Edit-a-thon, June 2026 (June)
A day-long Wikimedia Commons Edit-a-thon was organized by the Dhaka Wikimedia Community on 12 June 2026 at the Wikimedia Bangladesh office in Dhaka. The event brought together 11 Wikimedians, including nine in-person participants and two remote contributors, to improve the discoverability and usability of freely licensed media on Wikimedia Commons. The edit-a-thon focused on reducing the long-standing categorization backlog of the Bangladesh Press Information Department (PID) image collection, one of the largest institutional media collections available on Wikimedia Commons.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Throughout the day, participants collaboratively reviewed and categorized thousands of images using Commons maintenance tools such as HotCat and Cat-a-lot. Together, they made 11,928 edits and edited more than 11,000 pages, reducing the targeted backlog from over 11,000 uncategorized files to nearly 6,000 files. The event also introduced a custom real-time contribution tracking tool developed on Wikimedia Toolforge, allowing participants to monitor their contributions and leaderboard rankings throughout the day. Beyond the immediate reduction of the backlog, the initiative demonstrated the importance of maintenance work in ensuring the accessibility and reusability of Wikimedia Commons content, while also showcasing how community-developed tools can strengthen collaboration and engagement across the Wikimedia movement.
Wikipedia Edit-a-thon Dinajpur Government College (June)
| Articles Created | Participants |
|---|---|
| 06 | 04 |
.jpg)
On 16 June 2026, a Wikipedia Edit-a-thon was held at Dinajpur Government College in Dinajpur. The onsite event focused on creating new articles on Bangla Wikipedia and introduced participants to the basics of Wikipedia article creation and collaborative editing. Students from the Department of English of Dinajpur Government College took part in the activity, gaining practical experience in contributing to free knowledge through Wikipedia.
The edit-a-thon engaged four participants, who collectively created six new articles on Bangla Wikipedia. Through hands-on editing and guided participation, the event helped students understand the process of developing encyclopedic content, using reliable sources, and contributing to Wikimedia projects. The initiative supported local outreach in Dinajpur, encouraged student participation in free knowledge activities, and contributed to the growth of Bangla Wikipedia through new content creation.
Photowalks
Wikimedia Photowalk Rajshahi (April)
- Coordinated by: JIBON
| Total Uploads | Participants |
|---|---|
| 11 | 03 |
A Wikimedia Photowalk Rajshahi was organized by the Rajshahi Wikimedia Community on 14 April 2026 at the University of Rajshahi to document the celebrations of Pohela Boishakh, the Bengali New Year. The initiative aimed to preserve and share freely licensed visual documentation of Bengali cultural traditions, festivities, and community activities through Wikimedia Commons, ensuring that these aspects of cultural heritage remain accessible for future generations.
The photowalk engaged three participants, who photographed various aspects of the Pohela Boishakh celebrations across the university campus. Participants documented artwork and installations created by the Faculty of Fine Arts, processions organized by different faculties, cultural performances, and other activities associated with the festivities. The photographs contributed valuable visual content to Wikimedia Commons, enriching documentation of Bengali cultural heritage and providing resources usable across Wikimedia projects. The initiative highlighted the role of community-driven photography in preserving cultural traditions and expanding freely accessible visual knowledge.
Wikimedia Photowalk at the Purbachal Special Biodiversity Area (June)
- Coordinated by: Hasnat Abdullah
| Total Uploads | Participants |
|---|---|
| TBA | 04 |
Wikimedia Photowalk at the Purbachal Special Biodiversity Area was organized by the Dhaka Wikimedia Community and Wikimedia Bangladesh on 27 June 2026 at the Purbachal Special Biodiversity Area and its surrounding regions in Dhaka. The photowalk was organized as part of the activities related to the Wiki Loves Earth Bangladesh 2026 competition, to encourage the creation and upload of freely licensed photographs of natural heritage, biodiversity, landscapes, and ecologically significant areas.
.jpg)
The event brought together four participants. During the photowalk, participants documented different aspects of the Purbachal Special Biodiversity Area and nearby natural surroundings. The initiative contributed to the broader goal of improving visual documentation of Bangladesh's biodiversity and natural environment on Wikimedia Commons, while also supporting community participation in nature-focused Wikimedia activities.
Workshops
Wikipedia Workshop, Daffodil International University 2026 (April)
- Coordinated by: Delwar
On 13 April 2026, Daffodil International University and Wikimedia Bangladesh jointly organized a Wikipedia workshop titled Digital Integrity & Open Knowledge: Navigating Information Credibility in Modern Journalism. Held online through Google Meet, the session was arranged for students of the Department of Journalism, Media and Communication under the university’s Employability 360 program. The workshop aimed to improve participants’ understanding of information credibility, digital integrity, and the role of open knowledge platforms in modern journalism.
The session covered topics including Wikipedia’s content verification process, misinformation and disinformation, information ethics, fact-checking methods, digital safety, and career opportunities in the information and media sectors. Participants gained practical knowledge on evaluating the reliability of information and learned how Wikipedia and other open knowledge platforms support responsible journalism. The initiative contributed to strengthening media literacy, encouraging critical engagement with digital information, and increasing awareness of Wikimedia projects among university students.
Wikipedia Workshop, Eden Mohila College 2026 (May)
- Coordinated by: Yahya
| Participants |
|---|
| 250+ |
.jpg)
The Wikipedia Workshop at Eden Mohila College was organized on 7 May 2026 through a joint initiative of Wikimedia Bangladesh and the Daffodil International Professional Training Institute. Held at the historic Eden Mohila College in Azimpur, Dhaka, the workshop introduced students to Wikipedia, free knowledge, and opportunities for contributing to Wikimedia projects. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about open knowledge and encourage greater participation in Wikimedia activities among female students.
More than 250 female students participated in the workshop and learned about the importance of free knowledge, the basic principles of Wikipedia, and the fundamentals of Wikipedia editing. Participants were also introduced to the role of volunteers in creating and maintaining the world's largest free encyclopedia. The workshop helped increase awareness of Wikimedia projects among young women and encouraged them to explore opportunities for contributing to free knowledge platforms and joining the Wikimedia movement.
Wikipedia Online Workshop 2026 (June)
- Coordinated by: Yahya
| Participants | New editors registered |
|---|---|
| 200+ | 158 |
On 6 June 2026, Wikimedia Bangladesh organized a Wikipedia Online Workshop as part of its monthly online meeting series. Held through Zoom and livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, the workshop was designed for individuals interested in learning how to contribute to Wikipedia. The event introduced participants to the principles of free knowledge and provided practical guidance on becoming part of the Wikimedia movement. The workshop reached more than 200 participants, while 158 editors enrolled through the Outreach Dashboard for post-workshop contribution tracking.
Participants learned the basics of Wikipedia, including account creation, editing existing articles, creating new articles, and adding reliable references. The session also introduced Wikipedia’s core content policies and provided practical demonstrations of the editing process. An interactive question-and-answer segment allowed participants to discuss topics such as content quality, reliable sourcing, dispute resolution, editing methods, community participation, and contributor support. To encourage continued engagement, Wikimedia Bangladesh announced a follow-up contribution challenge and recognition for the most active contributor during the month following the workshop. The initiative helped raise awareness of Wikipedia, strengthen digital literacy skills, and support the onboarding of new contributors to the Bangla Wikimedia community.
In collaboration
[edit]
| Organization |  | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional communities | |||||
| Programs and initiatives | |||||
| Conferences & Celebration | |||||
| Events | |||||
| Reports |
| ||||
| Grants and reports |
| ||||