arXiv subjects

Zinnat Sultana

Publications and source records attributed to Zinnat Sultana.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Embodying Facts, Figures, and Faiths in Narrative Artistic Performances in Rural Bangladesh

There is an increasing interest in telling serious stories with data. Designers organize information, construct narratives, and present findings to inform audiences. However, many of these practices emerge from modern information visualization rhetoric and ethical frameworks which may marginalize communities with low digital and media literacy. In a ten-month-long ethnographic study in three Bangladeshi villages, we investigated how these communities use entertainment and cultural practices, namely Puthi, Bhandari Gaan, and Pot music, to instruct, communicate traditional moral lessons and recall history. We found that these communities embrace polyvocality and multiple ethical frameworks in their performances, construct narratives combining factuality, emotionality, and aesthetics, and adapt their performances to changing technology and audience needs. Our findings provide HCI, visualization, and ethical data practitioners with implications for the design of accessible and culturally appropriate ways of presenting data narratives in data-driven systems.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2026

Perception of Deepfakes among Bangladeshi Women

As deepfake technology becomes more accessible, concerns about its misuse and societal impact are escalating, particularly in regions like the Global South where digital literacy and regulatory measures are often limited. While previous research has explored deepfakes in contexts such as detection and media manipulation, there is a noticeable gap in understanding how individuals in these regions perceive and interact with deepfake media. This study addresses this gap by investigating how Bangladeshi women perceive deepfakes and the socio-cultural factors influencing their awareness, concerns, and responses to this technology. Drawing on 15 semi-structured interviews, we uncover how cultural values, gendered norms, trust in institutions, and the prevalence of digital harassment shape their perceptions and coping mechanisms. Through this research, we aim to advance existing scholarship in HCI by offering insights into the design of culturally sensitive interventions, educational initiatives, and policy frameworks to address the challenges posed by deepfakes in the Global South.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2026

Bangladesh AI Readiness: Perspectives from the Academia, Industry, and Government

Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness in the Global South extends beyond infrastructure to include curriculum design, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration. Bangladesh, ranked 82nd in the 2023 Oxford Insights AI Readiness Index, exhibits significant deficits in technology capacity and research ecosystems, despite strong governmental visions. While HCI and ICTD research have explored digital inclusion and responsible AI, little empirical work examines how educational, industrial, and policy domains intersect to shape readiness. We present a multi-method qualitative study of AI readiness in Bangladesh, combining institutional analyses, 59 stakeholder interviews, and curriculum benchmarking against global exemplars. Findings reveal outdated curricula, limited faculty upskilling, inadequate computing resources, entrenched gender disparities, and the near-total absence of AI ethics instruction. We contribute empirical mapping of current practices, identification of structural and cultural barriers, and actionable pathways for embedding human-centered, inclusive, and responsible AI practices into national agendas, advancing equitable innovation in emerging AI ecosystems.

cs.HC↗

arXiv2025

`Socheton': A Culturally Appropriate AI Tool to Support Reproductive Well-being

Reproductive well-being education in the Global South is often challenged as many communities perceive many of its contents as misinformation, misconceptions, and language-inappropriate. Our ten-month-long ethnographic study (n=41) investigated the impact of sociocultural landscape, cultural beliefs, and healthcare infrastructure on Bangladeshi people's access to quality reproductive healthcare and set four design goals: combating misinformation, including culturally appropriate language, professionals' accountable moderation, and promoting users' democratic participation. Building on the model of `\textit{Distributive Justice,}' we designed and evaluated \textit{`Socheton,'} a culturally appropriate AI-mediated tool for reproductive well-being that includes healthcare professionals, AI-language teachers, and community members to moderate and run the activity-based platform. Our user study (n=28) revealed that only combating misinformation and language inappropriateness may still leave the community with a conservative mob culture and patronize reproductive care-seeking. This guides well-being HCI design toward being culturally appropriate in the context of reproductive justice with sensitive marginalized communities.

cs.HC↗