Authors: 

ASM Amanullah, PhD, Team Leader
Polin Kumar Saha, Associate Consultant
Md. Abdul Hamid, Project Coordinator
Syed Tanim Ahmed, Research Officer
Corona Rahman, Research Officer
Md. Tanvir Hossain, Statistical Expert

In collaboration with:  Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), GRM

Publication date: 2021

Executive Summary:

The purpose of this baseline study is to measure current knowledge, attitude, and practice towards digital citizenship among Bangladeshi university students. This study will also enable the FNF and the implementing organization Dnet to identify and understand of performance direction on set of indicators at the end of the project as well as contribute to the designing and implementing the knowledge, awareness and advocacy activities targeting millions of tertiary students of the country. This baseline is being undertaken as part of a project called Foster Responsible Digital Citizenship to Promote Freedom of Expression in Bangladesh. The project officially commenced in February 2020. The European Union (EU) is co-funding the action. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Bangladesh (FNF Bangladesh) is the coordinator of the activities and is responsible for overall management of the program. Dnet is the implementing partner who will execute the project activities.
The main stakeholder groups of the project include, students, guardians, teachers, policymakers, and the media. Through direct and indirect interventions, the project aims to reach at least 50,000 young people in Bangladesh who will benefit from an improved regulatory framework as well as an increased knowledge (imparted through the target groups) on digital citizenship. This study interviewed 520 male and 428 female students from five universities of Bangladesh: Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University, Varendra University, and Daffodil International University. Using a structured questionnaire, data was collected during March-April 2021. In addition, the study interviewed 10 ethnic minority students and their findings are attached as Annexure 6. The second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh had affected the fieldwork. However, GRM study team used their best logistics, connections, and resources to reach the targeted students from all study locations.