The National Democratic Institute (NDI) successfully completed a pilot program in 2004 that employed the Swedish model of Study Circle to increase citizen input in political decision making in Bangladesh. Feedback from citizens and organizations in the pilot phase indicated that the method was a favorable and meaningful mechanism to address local concerns and issues by mobilizing local communities.

The second phase of the study circle program started from December 2004 with assistance from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA). NDI received funding to launch three-year initiative to expand study circles in Bangladesh. This program is designed to: (1) raise the awareness of democratic principles and encourage citizen input in the government decision-making process; and (2) increase the capacity of the participating non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to conduct citizen participation programs and expand their Study Circle initiatives. Based on the interest and institutional capacity of the NGOs, NDI selected eight: i) Gono Unnayan Prochesta (GUP); ii) Shastha-O-kalayan Sangatha (SKS); iii) Faridpur Development Agency (FDA); iv) Saptagram Nari Swanivor Parishad (SNSP); v) Swadesh Progati Parishad (SPP); vi) Voluntary Paribar Kalayan Association (VPKA); vii) Democracywatch (DW), and viii) Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS) to implement the study circle program at the grass root level (Please see the linked NGO profiles). Eight Upazilas in six Districts are being covered under the program. The districts are Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Bogra and Mymensingh. In addition, two non-funding NGOs are working as associate partners and implementing study circle program in their working area without the financial support from NDI, but receiving technical assistance and training facilities for operational activities. The non-funding partner NGOs are working in Jessore and Bagerhat.

NDI conducted a number of activities to lay the foundation of the program and conduct the program effectively. The NDI Study Circle team organized and conducted eight promotional workshops, made a number of field visits and held a series of meetings with senior officials of the NGOs to assess the strength of the organizations, evaluate their capacity to implement the proposed program, and determine the needs of local citizens and partner NGOs.