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{{short description|Bengali-language edition of Wikipedia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox website
| name = {{Wiki favicon}} Bengali Wikipedia
| screenshot = বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়ার প্রধান পাতা.png
| screenshot_size = 250px
| logo = Wikipedia-logo-v2-bn.svg
| logo_size = 85%
| collapsible = yes
| caption = Homepage of the Bengali Wikipedia, 24 January 2025
| url = [https://bn.wikipedia.org/ bn.wikipedia.org]<br />[https://www.উইকিপিডিয়া.বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া.বাংলা]
| commercial = No
| location = [[Miami]], Florida, United States
| type = [[Internet encyclopedia project]]
| language = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| registration = Optional
| owner = [[Wikimedia Foundation]]
| num_users = {{NUMBEROF|USERS|bn|N}}
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2004|01|27|df=yes}}
| author =
| current_status = {{color|green|Active}}, most users are based in [[Bangladesh]] and [[India]]
| content_license = {{nobr|[[Creative Commons licenses|Creative Commons Attribution/<br/>Share-Alike]] 4.0}} (most text also dual-licensed under [[GFDL]])<br/>Media licensing varies
}}

The '''Bengali Wikipedia''' or '''Bangla Wikipedia''' ({{langx|bn| বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া|Bāṅlā Uikipiḍiẏā}}) is the [[Bengali language]] edition of [[Wikipedia]], the free online encyclopedia. Launched on 27 January 2004, it surpassed 10,000 articles in October 2006, becoming the second South Asian language edition to do so.<ref name="Nazmul">{{cite web |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/tech/news/article_1206718.php/Bengali_Wikipedia_crosses_10000_articles |title=Bengali Wikipedia crosses 10,000 articles |last=Noronha |first=Frederick |date=30 September 2006 |work=[[Indo-Asian News Service]] |publisher=Monsters and Critics |access-date=25 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226084330/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/tech/news/article_1206718.php/Bengali_Wikipedia_crosses_10000_articles |archive-date=26 December 2013}}</ref> On 25 December 2020, the site achieved the milestone of 100,000 articles. As of {{Date}}, the Bengali Wikipedia has [[Special:Statistics|{{NUMBEROF|ARTICLES|bn|N}}]] articles.<ref>This prediction is based on <nowiki>{{NUMBEROF|ARTICLES|bn|N}}</nowiki> Wikipedia template that automatically updates article numbers. So this is not a permanent or fixed count. The number of articles shown here changes in real-time as soon as a new article is created or removed. Therefore, this is not a reliable source and the numbers shown here are subject to change without prior notice.</ref><ref name=DS-1>{{cite news |title=A decade of Bangla Wikipedia An open call |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/bytes/a-decade-of-bangla-wikipedia-an-open-call-15875 |access-date=15 April 2014 |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323090248/http://www.thedailystar.net/bytes/a-decade-of-bangla-wikipedia-an-open-call-15875 |archive-date=23 March 2014}}</ref> Although it joined later compared to top Wikipedias, it ranks 5th in terms of article depth among [[List of Wikipedias|318 active Wikipedias by language]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikipedia article depth - Meta |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia_article_depth |access-date=1 February 2023 |website=meta.wikimedia.org |language=en}}</ref>

As of June 2020, the Bengali Wikipedia is the only online free encyclopedia written in the Bengali language. It is also one of the largest Bengali-content-related sites on the internet. The mobile version of the Bengali Wikipedia was launched in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:এবার মোবাইল ফোনে বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া |url=http://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-03-16/news/49176 |work=[[Prothom Alo]] |language=bn |access-date=26 January 2019 |archive-date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430091949/http://archive.prothom-alo.com/detail/date/2010-03-16/news/49176 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

It also has a phonetic [[Latin script|Latin alphabet]]-to-[[Bengali alphabet|Bengali script]] tool so Latin alphabet keyboards can be used to type Bengali without downloading any software. Community-produced news publications include ''WikiBarta''. Similar to most Wikipedias of the region, the median age of the Bengali Wikipedia's editors is younger than that of many European Wikipedias.

== Statistics ==
In the 12-month period between February 2022 and January 2023, the Bengali Wikipedia had an average of 346 active [[Wikipedia community|editors]]<ref>At least 1 edit done in the last month by the registered user.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikistats - Statistics For Wikimedia Projects |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/bn.wikipedia.org/contributing/active-editors/normal%7Cline%7C2022-02-01~2023-02-01%7C(page_type)~content*non-content%7Cmonthly |access-date=1 February 2023 |website=stats.wikimedia.org}}</ref> and was viewed about 248 million times<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikistats - Statistics For Wikimedia Projects |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/bn.wikipedia.org/reading/total-page-views/normal%7Cbar%7C2022-02-01~2023-03-01%7C(agent)~user%7Cmonthly |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=stats.wikimedia.org}}</ref> from all over the world.

As of January 2023, the largest amount of pageviews came from [[Bangladesh]], [[India]], the [[United States]] and [[Saudi Arabia]], respectively, reflecting the spread of the Bengali language and the geographical reach of Bengali-speaking immigrants. The article [[:bn:সুভাষচন্দ্র বসু|সুভাষচন্দ্র বসু]] (English: [[Subhas Chandra Bose]]) was the most viewed article with 74,239 [[Pageview|page views]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikistats - Statistics For Wikimedia Projects |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/bn.wikipedia.org/reading/top-viewed-articles/normal%7Ctable%7C2023-01-01~2023-03-01%7C(access)~desktop*mobile-app*mobile-web%7Cmonthly |access-date=1 February 2023 |website=stats.wikimedia.org}}</ref>

== Early history ==
In February 2002, the developers started creating language-code-based subdomains for different language Wikipedias. Along with other Wikipedia subdomains, the Bengali language subdomain was created at that time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bn.wikipedia.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020222224618/http://bn.wikipedia.com/ |archive-date=22 February 2002 |title=Wikipedia: HomePage |date=22 February 2002 |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> A placeholder page was created automatically in that subdomain on 1 June 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bn.wikipedia.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020723102052/http://bn.wikipedia.com/ |archive-date=23 July 2002 |title=Wikipedia: HomePage |date=23 July 2002 |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> On 9 December 2003, a Bangladeshi [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] student at Canada's [[McGill University]], Shah Asaduzzaman, emailed Wikipedia founder [[Jimmy Wales]] with a request to create the Bengali Wikipedia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://lists.gt.net/wiki/wikitech/11087 |title=About starting a new wikipedia in language: Bengali |website=lists.gt.net |access-date=18 August 2019 |archive-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128030442/https://lists.gt.net/wiki/wikitech/11087 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Kalerkantho">{{cite news |script-title=bn:বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়ায় প্রথম |url=http://www.kalerkantho.com/online/techbishwa/2017/02/25/467582 |work=[[Kaler Kantho]] |access-date=27 January 2019 |language=bn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128030422/http://www.kalerkantho.com/online/techbishwa/2017/02/25/467582 |archive-date=28 January 2019 }}</ref> As a result, the developers created a test page on Wikipedia named "Home Page" on 26 December of the same year.<ref name="Kalerkantho"/>

The Main Page of the Bengali Wikipedia was created on 27 January 2004, from an IP address, marking the official beginning of the Bengali Wikipedia. '[[:bn:বাংলা ভাষা|বাংলা ভাষা]]' ("Bānglā Bhāshā"; [[Bengali language]] in English) was the first article on the Bengali Wikipedia, created on 24 May 2004.

== History ==
[[File:10th year anniversary of Bengali Wikipedia.jpg|300px|thumb|Wikipedia founder [[Jimmy Wales]] with Bengali Wikipedians during the Bengali Wikipedia's 10th anniversary celebration in [[Dhaka]] (2015)]]
The Bengali Wikipedia launched on 27 January 2004.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |url=http://www.kalerkantho.com/online/techbishwa/2017/02/25/467581 |script-title=bn:একনজরে বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া |work=[[Kaler Kantho]] |language=bn |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911191715/http://www.kalerkantho.com/online/techbishwa/2017/02/25/467581 |archive-date=11 September 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/tech-everyday/2018/01/28/595065 |script-title=bn:১৪ বছরে বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া |work=[[Kaler Kantho]] |language=bn}}</ref> At that time, the Bengali-speaking population had little interest in Wikipedia. A few students and scholars used the [[English Wikipedia]], but it was not accountable. Besides that, there were various difficulties contributing in Bengali. This scenario changed in 2006.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url=http://www.kalerkantho.com/online/techbishwa/2017/02/25/467571 |script-title=bn:যুগ পেরিয়ে বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া |work=[[Kaler Kantho]] |language=bn |access-date=11 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911191623/http://www.kalerkantho.com/online/techbishwa/2017/02/25/467571 |archive-date=11 September 2018 }}</ref> During that time, the Bengali blogging world was growing slowly, and many people became accustomed to Bengali computing, where a [[free and open-source]] Bengali typing tool, [[Avro Keyboard]], played a key role. On 25 March 2006, a Wiki team was created by the Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) to popularize Wikipedia throughout the country.<ref name="auto1"/> The aim was to represent Bengalis to the world through Wikipedia and build a complete encyclopedia in Bengali.

At that time, the Bengali Wikipedia had only 500 articles. The 'BdOSN wiki team' managed to spread the word through some newspapers and start a Bengali Wiki mailing list. Soon, many Bengali-speaking people from Bangladesh, India and abroad joined them. As a result, by the end of October, the Bengali Wikipedia got to 10,000 articles.<ref name="auto1"/> Among the South Asian language Wikipedias, the Bengali Wikipedia reached that milestone first, and many of these articles were illustrated with photos from the activist of the [[Bengali language movement|Bengali Language Movement]], Rafiqul Islam, who donated all his historical photographs taken during the language movement to [[Wikimedia Commons]].<ref name="auto1"/>

One of the pioneers of the Bengali Wikipedia, Ragib Hasan, stated: {{blockquote|The biggest challenge was writing something on internet in Bengali. The Bengali Unicode was not supported on most operating systems, only few websites on the internet supported Bengali Unicode, and users had difficulties configuring it. Moreover, the idea of writing something with Bengali Unicode was new. … in the beginning, the idea of a Wikipedia in Bengali was not actually workable.<ref name="auto1"/>}}

The very low activity of the Bengali Wikipedia for many years, mostly in the period between 2007 and 2013, can be attributed to the low number of internet users in Bangladesh, especially in the first decade of the 21st century (in 2010, there were only 556,000 internet users in Bangladesh according to research). Thus, it ranked below many other languages with much fewer speakers, including regional languages of Western Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Percentage-of-internet-users-in-Bangladesh-2003-2010_fig1_235303683 |website=[[ResearchGate]] |title=Percentage of internet users in Bangladesh (2003-2010) |language=en |access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref>

Between 2009 and 2010, Bengali speakers from [[West Bengal]], India, also started to contribute to the Bengali Wikipedia.<ref name="auto1"/> In the meantime, the [[Wikimedia Foundation]] started their operations and on 3 October 2011, a local chapter named [[Wikimedia Bangladesh]] was approved in Bangladesh<ref name="auto"/> by the Foundation to promote educational content in Bengali. On 26 February 2015, Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia, visited Bangladesh for a celebration program that was organized by Wikimedia Bangladesh<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/science-technology/news/59709/Wikipedia-co-founder-arrive-Dhaka |title=Wikipedia co-founder arrive Dhaka |work=[[Prothom Alo]] |language=en |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name="auto2">{{cite news |url=http://somoynews.tv/pages/details/%E0%A6%A2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B9-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B8 |script-title=bn:ঢাকায় উইকিপিডিয়ার সহ-প্রতিষ্ঠাতা জিমি ওয়েলস |work=[[Somoy News]] |language=bn|title=Somoy Tv News }}</ref> to mark the tenth year of the Bengali Wikipedia.<ref name="prothomalo.com">{{cite news |date=6 February 2018 |script-title=bn:যে বার্তা দিয়ে গেলেন জিমি ওয়েলস |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/technology/article/463339/%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B8}}</ref><ref name="auto2"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thedhakatimes.com/58671/bengali-wikipedia-third-language/ |script-title=bn:গভীরতার বিচারে বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়ায় তৃতীয় ভাষা |work=[[Dhaka Times]]|date=28 February 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.ntvbd.com/tech/2524/%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%99%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE |script-title=bn:উইকিপিডিয়ায় তৃতীয় ভাষা বাংলা |work=NTV |language=bn |access-date=18 August 2019 |archive-date=18 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818150717/https://www.ntvbd.com/tech/2524/%25E0%25A6%2589%25E0%25A6%2587%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25AA%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25A1%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25AF%25E0%25A6%25BC%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25AF%25E0%25A6%25BC-%25E0%25A6%25A4%25E0%25A7%2583%25E0%25A6%25A4%25E0%25A7%2580%25E0%25A6%25AF%25E0%25A6%25BC-%25E0%25A6%25AD%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B7%25E0%25A6%25BE-%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2582%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25BE/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/technology/article/460678 |script-title=bn:বাংলাদেশে আসছেন জিমি ওয়েলস |work=Prothom Alo |date=24 February 2015 |language=bn |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://en.ntvbd.com/sci-tech/1377/GP-subscribers-get-free-Wikipedia-access/print |title=GP subscribers get free Wikipedia access |work=[[NTV (Bangladesh)]] |access-date=18 August 2019 |archive-date=3 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903140900/http://en.ntvbd.com/sci-tech/1377/GP-subscribers-get-free-Wikipedia-access/print |url-status=dead }}</ref> In his keynote, Wales said that according to article depth, Bengali Wikipedia is rated quite well.<ref name="prothomalo.com"/><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |url=https://www.prothomalo.com/technology/article/463339/%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%93%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%B8 |script-title=bn:যে বার্তা দিয়ে গেলেন জিমি ওয়েলস |work=[[Prothom Alo]] |date=6 February 2018 |language=bn |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref>

Since 2018, the Bengali Wikipedia has begun to experience a very strong growth in articles, as more than 16,000 articles were written in 2019<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bn.wikiscan.org/date/2019/stats |title=General statistics for Bengali Wikipedia, 2019 |website=Wikiscan.org |access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref> and 21,000 articles in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bn.wikiscan.org/date/2020/stats |title=General statistics for Bengali Wikipedia, 2020 |website=Wikiscan.org |access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref> from just 8,800 articles in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bn.wikiscan.org/date/2018/stats |title=General statistics for Bengali Wikipedia, 2018 |website=Wikiscan.org |access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref> This growth can be attributed to a mixture of successful [[edit-a-thon]]s and the arrival of many prolific contributors.

The Bengali Wikipedia now has {{NUMBEROF|ARTICLES|Bn|N}} articles on various topics with {{NUMBEROF|ACTIVEUSERS|Bn|N}} active editors per month. As of January 2019, Bengali Wikipedia is the only online free [[encyclopedia]] written in the Bengali language.<ref name="Jugantor">{{cite news |script-title=bn:বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়ার ১৫ বছর |language=bn |work=Jugantor |url=https://www.jugantor.com/todays-paper/it-world/138790/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A7%A7%E0%A7%AB-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%9B%E0%A6%B0 |access-date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/feature/chakriache/2015/02/18/189075 |script-title=bn:জেনে রাখুন |work=Kaler Kantho |language=bn |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> It is also one of the largest Bengali-content-related sites on the internet.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/world/2010/02/19/33256 |script-title=bn:কালের কণ্ঠ |work=Kaler Kantho |language=bn |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref> Statistically, since early 2019, the Bengali Wikipedia has recorded significant growth. The number of articles has increased from 63,000 to nearly 101,000 in just two years and the number of active users has increased to above a thousand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/bn.wikipedia.org/content/pages-to-date/normal%7Cline%7C2-year%7C~total%7Cmonthly |title=Wikimedia Statistics - Bengali Wikipedia - Pages to date |website=Wikistats |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref> The number of [[Editing|edits]] has also recorded significant growth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/bn.wikipedia.org/contributing/edits/normal%7Cbar%7C2017-02-15~2020-12-30%7C~total%7Cmonthly |title=Wikimedia Statistics - Bengali Wikipedia - Edits |website=Wikistats |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref>

On 25 December 2020, the Bengali Wikipedia reached the milestone of 100,000 articles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Wikipedias/Table&diff=20895702 |title=List of Wikipedias |website=Meta.wikimedia.org |access-date=26 December 2020}}</ref> Since 2019, the number of active users has remained above 1,000.

== Features ==
The Bengali Wikipedia has about {{NUMBEROF|ARTICLES|bn|N}} articles (as of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTYEAR}}). It features thousands of articles about Bangladesh and India, although it lacks some articles about the latter and Europe. Due to the history of Bangladesh, Pakistan-related topics are also well covered. Most contributors are based in [[Bangladesh]], and a fair minority in [[West Bengal]]; however, very few users are based in other Bengali-speaking areas of India or abroad. Also, online thematic editathons are common in Bengali Wikipedia.

As with many other Indic Wikipedias, before 2020 there was a tendency for active users and pageviews to record a significant increase during the monsoon season (June–October). After October, the growth was largely retained before a new cycle of growth was beginning at June of the next year. That process stopped after 2020.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/bn.wikipedia.org/reading/total-page-views/normal |title=Wikimedia Statistics - Pageviews in Bengali Wikipedia |website=stats.wikimedia.org |access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref> As of June 2022, the Bengali Wikipedia is read approximately 710,000 times per day, indicating that it is pretty popular with Bengali-language speakers.<ref name=":0" /> Due to its rapid growth, as described earlier, the Bengali Wikipedia has improved its ranking in the list of the largest Wikipedias by number of articles, increasing from the 80th position in January 2019<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=List of Wikipedias/Table - Meta |url=https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wikipedias/Table |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=meta.wikimedia.org |language=en}}</ref> to the 58th in February 2026.<ref name=":1" />

During May 2022, the Bengali Wikipedia received 12 million pageviews in Bangladesh and 4 million pageviews in India. Small numbers of pageviews also come from the United States and from the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Gulf states]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikistats - Statistics For Wikimedia Projects |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/bn.wikipedia.org/reading/page-views-by-country/normal%7Cmap%7C2022-10-02~2022-10-03%7C(access)~desktop*mobile-app*mobile-web%7Cmonthly |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=stats.wikimedia.org}}</ref> where there are sizable Bengali-speaking migrant communities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/#/bn.wikipedia.org/reading/page-views-by-country/normal |title=Pageviews by country in Bengali Wikipedia |website=stats.wikimedia.org |access-date=15 June 2022}}</ref> It is Bangladesh's second most popular language version of Wikipedia, behind English, but in India it does not receive more than 1% of the Wikipedia pageviews in that country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wikimedia Traffic Analysis Report - Wikipedia Page Views Per Country - Breakdown |url=https://stats.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/squids/SquidReportPageViewsPerCountryBreakdown.htm |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=stats.wikimedia.org |archive-date=1 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501080210/https://stats.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/squids/SquidReportPageViewsPerCountryBreakdown.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The significant number of people who live under the poverty line in Bangladesh (20.5% as of 2019)<ref>{{Cite web |last=ralph |date=12 May 2022 |title=Bangladesh: Poverty |url=https://www.adb.org/countries/bangladesh/poverty |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=Asian Development Bank |language=en}}</ref> and lower penetration of the internet in Bangladesh<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bangladesh: internet penetration rate 2019 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/764102/internet-penetration-rate-bangladesh/ |access-date=4 November 2022 |website=Statista |language=en}}</ref> and India is one of the causes for the still low number of articles in Bengali. Also to blame is the socioeconomic context of Bangladesh and West Bengal as a whole.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yahya |date=22 February 2023 |title=Amar Ekushey Article Contest 2023 has started |url=https://diff.wikimedia.org/2023/02/22/amar-ekushey-article-contest-2023-has-started/ |access-date=23 February 2023 |website=Diff |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Users and editors ==

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Bengali Wikipedia statistics
|-
! Number of user accounts !! Number of articles !! Number of files !! Number of administrators
|-
| {{NUMBEROF|USERS|bn|N}} || {{NUMBEROF|ARTICLES|bn|N}} || {{NUMBEROF|FILES|bn|N}} || {{NUMBEROF|ADMINS|bn}}
|}

== Controversies ==
Over the years, there has been confusion in [[Media of Bangladesh|Bangladeshi media]] regarding some information on the Bengali Wikipedia. In April 2018, Bangladeshi print and electronic media reported that Wikipedia named [[Runa Laila]], a renowned singer from Bangladesh, among its top 30 Bengali people of all time.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:উইকিপিডিয়ায় শীর্ষ ত্রিশ বাঙালিতে রুনা লায়লা {{!}} আনন্দ বিনোদন |url=http://archive1.ittefaq.com.bd/print-edition/anondo-binodon/2018/04/05/268645.html |work=[[The Daily Ittefaq]] |language=bn |access-date=17 March 2019 |archive-date=29 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729160643/https://archive1.ittefaq.com.bd/print-edition/anondo-binodon/2018/04/05/268645.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:উইকিপিডিয়ায় শীর্ষ ত্রিশ বাঙালির তালিকায় রুনা লায়লা |url=http://mzamin.com/article.php?mzamin=111375 |work=[[Daily Manab Zamin]] |language=bn |access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:উইকিপিডিয়ার শীর্ষ ত্রিশ বাঙালির তালিকায় রুনা লায়লা |url=https://samakal.com/todays-print-edition/tp-entertainment/article/180438/%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BF%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%99%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE |work=[[Samakal]] |access-date=17 March 2019 |language=bn}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:শীর্ষ ৩০ বাঙালির মধ্যে রুনা লায়লা |url=https://www.ekushey-tv.com/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A7%A9%E0%A7%A6-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%99%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE/31423 |work=[[Ekushey TV]] |language=bn |access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref> This confusion arose due to the use of a collage image in the [[Bengalis]] article's infobox on the Bengali and English versions of Wikipedia.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:রুনা লায়লাকে নিয়ে গণমাধ্যমে বিভ্রান্তি |url=https://www.jagonews24.com/entertainment/news/418644 |work=[[Jago News 24]] |language=bn |access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref> In October 2018, administrator Nurunnabi Chowdhury Hasive was permanently blocked by the Wikimedia Foundation after it was discovered he had accepted bribes totaling 1.5 million [[Bangladeshi taka]] (approx. [[US$]]17,685) from the Bangladeshi government for paid editing without disclosing the conflict of interest.<ref>{{cite news |title=বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়ার প্রশাসকত্ব হারালেন নুরুন্নবী চৌধুরী হাছিব |url=https://www.odhikar.news/crime/19718/বাংলা-উইকিপিডিয়ার-প্রশাসকত্ব-হারালেন-নুরুন্নবী-চৌধুরী-হাছিব |access-date=25 August 2025 |work=Odhikar.news |date=15 October 2018}}</ref> In August of the same year, an unregistered user added a false date of death in [[Muhammed Zafar Iqbal]]'s article, which also attracted media attention.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:ড. জাফর ইকবালকে মৃত দেখাচ্ছে বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া |url=http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/bangla/2018/08/03/%E0%A6%A1-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D/ |work=The Bangladesh Today |language=bn |access-date=17 March 2019 |archive-date=7 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807015919/http://www.thebangladeshtoday.com/bangla/2018/08/03/%E0%A6%A1-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%8D/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:জাফর ইকবালকে মৃত দেখাচ্ছে বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া |url=https://www.jamuna.tv/news/44063 |work=[[Jamuna Television]] |language=bn |access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:জাফর ইকবালের মৃত্যুর খবর সংশোধন করেছে উইকিপিডিয়া |trans-title=Wikipedia has corrected the news of Zafar Iqbal's death |url=https://www.amadershomoy.com/bn/2018/08/03/630832.htm |work=[[Amader Shomoy]] |language=bn |access-date=12 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.jamuna.tv/news/44085 |script-title=bn:জাফর ইকবালের মৃত্যুর খবর সংশোধন করলো বাংলা উইকিপিডিয়া |trans-title=The news of Zafar Iqbal's death was corrected by Bengali Wikipedia |work=[[Jamuna Television]] |language=bn |access-date=24 August 2019}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
{{multiple image
| align = center
| direction =
| background color = #ffffff
| total_width =
| caption_align = center
| image1 = Wikipedia Sommilon 1 participants1.JPG
| link1 = File:Wikipedia Sommilon 1 participants1.JPG
| caption1 = First ever Bengali Wikipedia meetup, Dhaka (2007)
| image2 = BNWIKI10-Bengali Wikipedians Celebration Group Photo-Wikipedia 10th Anniversary Celebration.jpg
| link2 = File:BNWIKI10-Bengali Wikipedians Celebration Group Photo-Wikipedia 10th Anniversary Celebration.jpg
| caption2 = Bengali Wikipedia's 10th Anniversary group photo, Kolkata (2015)
| image4 = 14th Anniversary of Bengali Wikipedia, Dhaka 153.jpg
| link4 = File:14th Anniversary of Bengali Wikipedia, Dhaka 153.jpg
| caption4 = Bengali Wikipedia's 14th Anniversary group photo, Dhaka (2018)
| image3 = 13th anniversary of Bangla Wikipedia with all wikipedians 02.jpg
| link3 = File:13th anniversary of Bangla Wikipedia with all wikipedians 02.jpg
| caption3 = Bengali Wikipedia's 13th Anniversary group photo, Dhaka (2017)
| image5 = Group photo of Wikimania 2022 – Bangladesh Round.png
| caption5 = Wikimania Conference, Bangladesh Round (2022)
}}

== See also ==
* [[History of Wikipedia]]
* [[Reliability of Wikipedia]]
* [[Wikipedia community]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://bn.wikipedia.org Bengali Wikipedia] * [https://bn.m.wikipedia.org Bengali Wikipedia mobile]
* [https://bn.wikiscan.org Bengali Wikipedia in Wikiscan] – website that provides real-time and other statistics for Wikimedia wikis

{{Wikipedia}}
{{Wikipedias}}

[[Category:2004 establishments in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2004]]
[[Category:Wikipedias in Indo-Aryan languages]]
[[Category:Bengali-language encyclopedias]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi encyclopedias]]
[[Category:Wikipedias by languages of India]]

Bengali Wikipedia - Revision history

SidneyBecnel at 23:32, 18 February 2026