Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 01 Jan 2010

Last Updated: 16 September 2026

Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF) respects the privacy of individuals who visit our website, communicate with us, participate in our programs, support our work, collaborate with us, or otherwise interact with the Foundation. This Privacy Policy explains how Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF) collects, uses, processes, stores, protects, and, where necessary, shares personal information obtained through our website and related digital communications.

BNF is committed to handling personal information responsibly, transparently, and proportionately. We seek to collect only information that is reasonably necessary for legitimate organizational, programmatic, administrative, communication, research, fundraising, safeguarding, and legal purposes.

By using the BNF website or voluntarily providing personal information to us, you acknowledge that your information may be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy, subject to applicable laws and regulations.

1. About Bangladesh Nature Foundation

Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF) is an environmental and nature-conservation organization working to promote biodiversity conservation, ecosystem conservation and management, environmental awareness, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable coastal livelihoods, community development, research, education, and protection of Bangladesh’s natural heritage.

Head Office:

Sayman Road, Cox’s Bazar-4700, Bangladesh

For privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, visitors may contact BNF through the official contact information provided on the website.

2. Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through or in connection with:

  • The official BNF website
  • Website contact forms
  • Email communications
  • Newsletter or mailing-list subscriptions
  • Volunteer applications
  • Internship applications
  • Employment or consultant applications
  • Research collaboration inquiries
  • Partnership inquiries
  • Donor and supporter communications
  • Event registrations
  • Training and workshop registrations
  • Project participation
  • Community engagement activities
  • Online surveys and feedback forms
  • Other digital services operated by or on behalf of BNF

This Policy may also apply to information voluntarily provided to BNF through other communication channels where the information is handled by BNF as part of its organizational activities. This Policy does not necessarily apply to websites, platforms, or services operated independently by third parties. External websites linked from the BNF website have their own privacy practices and policies.

3. What Information We May Collect

The type of information collected by BNF depends on how an individual interacts with the Foundation.

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

You may voluntarily provide personal information when you:

  • Contact BNF
  • Submit an inquiry
  • Apply for a position
  • Apply for an internship
  • Apply to volunteer
  • Register for an event
  • Subscribe to updates
  • Request information
  • Propose a research collaboration
  • Request a partnership
  • Participate in a project
  • Provide feedback
  • Make a donation or express an intention to donate
  • Participate in surveys
  • Communicate with BNF staff

Depending on the activity, this information may include:

  • Full name
  • Organization or institution
  • Professional position
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Mailing address
  • Country or locality
  • Professional or academic background
  • Research interests
  • Areas of expertise
  • Information contained in a CV or résumé
  • Information included in an application
  • Project-related information
  • Communication preferences
  • Other information that you voluntarily provide

BNF will seek to avoid collecting unnecessary personal information.

4. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the BNF website, certain technical information may be collected automatically by the website, hosting provider, security systems, analytics services, or other technical infrastructure.

This may include:

  • IP address
  • Browser type
  • Device type
  • Operating system
  • Website pages visited
  • Date and time of access
  • Referring website
  • Approximate geographic information derived from technical data
  • Website interaction information
  • Technical error information
  • Other information necessary for website security and performance

Such information may be used primarily for website operation, security, troubleshooting, analytics, performance improvement, and understanding general visitor behavior.

5. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The BNF website may use cookies and similar technologies.

Cookies are small data files that may be stored on your device when you visit a website. BNF may use cookies for purposes such as:

  • Website functionality
  • Security
  • Remembering preferences
  • Understanding website usage
  • Measuring website performance
  • Improving website content
  • Generating aggregated statistical information

Where third-party analytics, embedded content, or other services are used, those providers may place their own cookies or similar technologies subject to their respective policies. You may be able to control or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of the website.

6. How We Use Personal Information

BNF may use personal information for legitimate organizational purposes, including:

Communication

To:

  • Respond to inquiries
  • Provide requested information
  • Communicate regarding projects or activities
  • Respond to partnership proposals
  • Respond to research inquiries
  • Communicate with volunteers, applicants, donors, supporters, and participants

Program Implementation

Information may be used where necessary to:

  • Implement conservation programs
  • Manage community activities
  • Coordinate training and workshops
  • Administer project participation
  • Monitor program activities
  • Communicate with beneficiaries and stakeholders
  • Meet legitimate project-management requirements

Recruitment and Human Resources

Where information is submitted for employment, internship, volunteer, or consultancy opportunities, BNF may use it to:

  • Assess applications
  • Communicate with applicants
  • Conduct recruitment processes
  • Verify information where appropriate
  • Manage appointments and related administrative processes

Research and Knowledge Activities

Where individuals voluntarily participate in research, surveys, assessments, or knowledge-development activities, information may be used for legitimate research and program purposes. Where research involves identifiable personal information, BNF will seek to apply appropriate ethical and data-protection safeguards.

Events and Training

Information may be used to:

  • Register participants
  • Communicate event information
  • Maintain attendance records
  • Provide certificates where applicable
  • Evaluate activities
  • Follow up with participants

Organizational Administration

BNF may process information for:

  • Record keeping
  • Financial administration
  • Donor administration
  • Project administration
  • Compliance
  • Auditing
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Risk management
  • Organizational reporting

Website Improvement

Technical and aggregated information may be used to:

  • Understand website usage
  • Improve navigation
  • Identify technical problems
  • Improve accessibility
  • Improve content
  • Monitor website performance
  • Protect website security

7. Legal and Legitimate Basis for Processing

BNF will process personal information only where there is an appropriate legitimate basis for doing so under applicable law. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

  • Your consent
  • Your request for information or services
  • Performance of an agreed activity
  • Legitimate organizational interests
  • Compliance with legal or regulatory requirements
  • Protection of individuals or organizational security
  • Other lawful grounds recognized under applicable law

Where consent is relied upon, BNF will seek to obtain consent in an appropriate and understandable manner.

8. Consent

Where appropriate, BNF may request your consent before collecting or using personal information for a particular purpose. You may withdraw consent where applicable. Withdrawal of consent will not necessarily affect processing that was lawfully conducted before the withdrawal. Certain information may need to be retained or processed even after withdrawal where necessary for legal, regulatory, financial, safeguarding, contractual, or legitimate organizational purposes.

9. Donations and Financial Information

Where BNF accepts donations through the website or through a third-party payment platform, payment information may be processed by the relevant payment service provider. BNF does not intend to unnecessarily retain complete payment-card information on its own website systems.

Payment providers may collect and process information in accordance with their own terms and privacy policies. Depending on the donation mechanism, BNF may receive information such as:

  • Donor name
  • Contact information
  • Donation amount
  • Date of donation
  • Transaction reference
  • Payment status
  • Other information necessary for accounting and donor administration

Financial information may be retained where necessary for accounting, audit, legal, tax, donor reporting, or organizational record-keeping purposes.

10. Beneficiary and Community Information

BNF may work directly with communities, beneficiaries, local organizations, and participants in conservation, livelihood, climate, research, education, or development programs. Some projects may require information about participants for legitimate program purposes. BNF seeks to apply appropriate safeguards when collecting and using such information and will endeavor to collect only information necessary for the relevant activity. Where information concerns children, vulnerable persons, or other individuals requiring additional protection, BNF will seek to apply appropriate safeguarding and ethical procedures.

11. Sensitive or Special-Category Information

BNF generally seeks to avoid collecting sensitive personal information unless it is necessary for a legitimate and appropriate purpose. Depending on the nature of a particular program, certain information may require additional protection. Where such information is collected, BNF will seek to:

  • Limit collection to what is necessary
  • Restrict access
  • Use appropriate security measures
  • Apply relevant ethical safeguards
  • Avoid unnecessary disclosure
  • Retain the information only as long as reasonably necessary

Individuals should avoid submitting sensitive personal information through ordinary website contact forms unless BNF specifically requests it through an appropriate process.

12. Children’s Privacy

BNF recognizes the importance of protecting children’s privacy. The BNF website is not intended to encourage children to provide unnecessary personal information directly through online forms. Where BNF programs involve children or young people, information will be handled according to applicable safeguarding, ethical, and organizational requirements. BNF may seek appropriate parental, guardian, institutional, or other authorization where required for participation, photography, research, publication, or other activities involving children.

13. Photographs, Videos, and Stories

BNF may document its programs and activities through photographs, videos, interviews, quotations, project stories, and other communications materials. Where individuals are identifiable, BNF will seek appropriate permission or use other lawful and appropriate grounds before publishing identifiable material, where required. Such materials may be used for purposes including:

  • Project documentation
  • Annual reports
  • Educational materials
  • Research and knowledge dissemination
  • Website content
  • Public awareness
  • Social media
  • Fundraising and organizational communication

Individuals may contact BNF if they have concerns regarding the use of their identifiable image or personal story.

14. Research Data and Publications

BNF may conduct, support, or participate in environmental, biodiversity, ecosystem, livelihood, climate, or other research activities. Where personal information forms part of research activities, BNF seeks to apply appropriate research ethics and data-management practices. Where feasible, research findings may be presented in aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified form. Personal information will not ordinarily be published in research outputs unless there is an appropriate legal, ethical, or consent-based reason to do so. Researchers and collaborators working with BNF may be subject to additional research ethics, data-management, confidentiality, or collaboration requirements.

15. Data Minimization

BNF follows a data-minimization approach. This means that we seek to collect and process personal information that is:

  • Relevant
  • Necessary
  • Proportionate
  • Appropriate for the stated purpose

We do not seek to collect personal information merely because it is technically possible to do so.

16. Accuracy of Information

BNF seeks to maintain accurate and reasonably current personal information. Where appropriate, individuals may request correction or updating of information held about them. Individuals are encouraged to provide accurate information when communicating with BNF and to inform us if previously provided information changes.

17. How We Share Personal Information

BNF does not intend to sell personal information to third parties. Personal information may be shared where reasonably necessary with:

  • Authorized BNF personnel
  • Project personnel
  • Relevant government authorities
  • Donors or funding partners where required under project arrangements
  • Professional advisers
  • Auditors
  • Service providers
  • Website and hosting providers
  • Payment processors
  • Technology providers
  • Research collaborators
  • Other organizations where necessary for a legitimate and disclosed purpose

Where possible and appropriate, BNF seeks to limit shared information to what is necessary for the relevant purpose.

18. Third-Party Service Providers

BNF may use third-party services to operate and improve aspects of its website and organizational activities. These may include services for:

  • Website hosting
  • Website security
  • Analytics
  • Email communication
  • Online forms
  • Cloud storage
  • Payment processing
  • Event registration
  • Website performance
  • Technical support

Third-party providers may process information on behalf of BNF or independently according to their own terms and privacy policies.

BNF seeks to work with service providers that apply appropriate security and privacy practices.

19. External Links

The BNF website may contain links to external websites operated by government institutions, universities, NGOs, research organizations, donors, partners, social-media platforms, or other third parties. BNF is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, security, or data-processing practices of external websites. Visitors should review the privacy policies of external websites before providing personal information.

20. Social Media

BNF may maintain official social-media accounts and may provide social-media links through its website. Interaction with social-media platforms may result in those platforms collecting personal information according to their own privacy policies. BNF encourages users to review the privacy settings and policies of the relevant social-media platform.

21. Data Security

BNF takes reasonable organizational and technical measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Depending on the nature of the information and the systems involved, safeguards may include:

  • Access controls
  • Password protection
  • Restricted administrative access
  • Secure communication practices
  • Website security measures
  • Backup procedures
  • Staff responsibilities
  • Confidentiality requirements
  • Appropriate technical safeguards
  • Monitoring and corrective measures

However, no website, electronic communication system, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Individuals should therefore avoid sending highly sensitive information through ordinary email or website forms unless specifically requested through an appropriate secure process.

22. Confidentiality

BNF seeks to maintain appropriate confidentiality concerning personal information. Access to personal information will generally be limited to individuals who require the information to perform their legitimate responsibilities. Confidential information may be disclosed where required by law, necessary to protect individuals, necessary to investigate suspected misconduct, required for project implementation, or otherwise permitted by applicable law.

23. Data Retention

BNF will retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Retention periods may depend on:

  • The purpose of collection
  • Project requirements
  • Donor requirements
  • Accounting requirements
  • Audit requirements
  • Legal obligations
  • Research requirements
  • Safeguarding requirements
  • Organizational record-keeping needs

When personal information is no longer reasonably required, BNF may securely delete, destroy, anonymize, or otherwise dispose of it.

24. International Data Transfers

Some third-party service providers used by BNF may operate servers or infrastructure outside Bangladesh. Where personal information is processed or stored outside Bangladesh, BNF will seek to apply appropriate safeguards consistent with applicable legal requirements and the nature of the information.

25. Your Privacy Rights

Subject to applicable law and legitimate organizational requirements, individuals may have rights relating to their personal information. Depending on the circumstances, these may include the right to:

  • Know whether BNF holds personal information about you
  • Request access to personal information
  • Request correction of inaccurate information
  • Request deletion where appropriate
  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
  • Object to certain processing
  • Request restriction of processing where applicable
  • Ask questions about how information is being used
  • Raise concerns regarding privacy practices

These rights may be subject to lawful limitations, including legal, regulatory, safeguarding, security, contractual, research, or record-retention requirements.

26. How to Submit a Privacy Request

To make a privacy-related request, please contact BNF using the official contact details published on the website. Your request should, where possible, include:

  • Your name
  • Contact information
  • The nature of your request
  • Relevant details that can help BNF identify the information concerned

BNF may request reasonable information necessary to verify the identity of the person making a request before disclosing or modifying personal information.

27. Complaints and Privacy Concerns

BNF welcomes questions and concerns regarding the handling of personal information. If you believe that your personal information has been handled improperly, you may contact BNF and explain:

  • What happened
  • What information is concerned
  • When the issue occurred
  • What outcome you are seeking

BNF will review privacy concerns in a reasonable and appropriate manner and take corrective action where necessary.

28. Data Breach and Security Incidents

If BNF becomes aware of a security incident involving personal information, it will assess the nature and potential impact of the incident and take reasonable steps to contain, investigate, and address it. Where notification is required by applicable law or is otherwise appropriate, BNF will make relevant notifications to affected individuals, authorities, partners, or other parties as required.

29. Employee, Volunteer, and Applicant Information

Information submitted by employees, prospective employees, volunteers, interns, consultants, or applicants may be processed for legitimate organizational purposes, including:

  • Recruitment
  • Selection
  • Verification
  • Communication
  • Contract administration
  • Volunteer management
  • Internship administration
  • Performance and program management
  • Organizational compliance

Additional internal policies may govern the handling of personnel information.

30. Donor and Partner Privacy

BNF respects the privacy of donors, funding organizations, institutional partners, research collaborators, and other supporters. Donor and partner information will generally be used for purposes such as:

  • Communication
  • Donation administration
  • Financial records
  • Reporting
  • Partnership management
  • Project implementation
  • Compliance
  • Acknowledgment of support where appropriate

BNF will seek appropriate permission before publicly identifying an individual donor where such identification is not otherwise authorized or required.

31. Public Disclosure of Organizational Information

BNF may publish organizational information to promote transparency and accountability. Such information may include:

  • Organizational history
  • Governance information
  • Project information
  • Research outputs
  • Annual reports
  • General financial or program information
  • Donor or partner information where appropriately disclosed
  • Photographs and project stories
  • Publications
  • Events and activities

BNF will seek to avoid unnecessary publication of personal information in public documents.

32. Aggregated and Anonymized Information

BNF may use aggregated or anonymized information for purposes such as:

  • Research
  • Program evaluation
  • Monitoring and evaluation
  • Environmental analysis
  • Statistical reporting
  • Public awareness
  • Organizational planning

Where information has been appropriately anonymized, it may no longer constitute personal information under applicable law.

33. Changes to This Privacy Policy

BNF may periodically review and update this Privacy Policy to reflect:

  • Changes in organizational activities
  • Changes to the website
  • Changes in technology
  • Changes in applicable laws
  • Changes in data-processing practices
  • Changes in organizational policies

The updated version will be published on the BNF website with an updated “Last Updated” date.

Where changes are significant, BNF may provide additional notice where appropriate.

34. No Guarantee Regarding Third-Party Services

BNF takes reasonable steps to protect information under its control. However, BNF cannot guarantee the privacy or security of information processed entirely by third-party platforms. Visitors should understand that third-party services, including payment providers, social-media platforms, analytics services, cloud providers, and external websites, may operate under their own terms and privacy policies.

35. Website Security and Responsible Use

Visitors are expected to use the BNF website responsibly. Users should not attempt to:

  • Gain unauthorized access to the website
  • Access another person’s information
  • Circumvent security controls
  • Introduce malicious software
  • Interfere with website operations
  • Collect personal information from the website through unauthorized means

BNF may record technical information associated with security incidents for the purposes of protecting the website and investigating unauthorized activity.

36. Contact Information

For questions, requests, complaints, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of personal information, please contact:

Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF)

Sayman Road

Cox’s Bazar-4700

Bangladesh

Email: info@bdnature.org

Telephone: [Insert Official Telephone Number]

Website: https://bdnature.org/

Please use the subject line “Privacy Policy / Data Protection Inquiry” for privacy-related communications where appropriate.

37. Policy Acceptance

By using the BNF website, visitors acknowledge that they have had an opportunity to review this Privacy Policy. Where applicable law requires specific consent for particular types of processing, BNF will seek that consent separately. Nothing in this Privacy Policy is intended to remove or restrict any rights that individuals may have under applicable law.

Our Commitment to Privacy

At Bangladesh Nature Foundation, we recognize that responsible conservation and community development depend on trust, accountability, respect, and responsible stewardship of information. We are committed to handling personal information with care and using it only for legitimate purposes connected with our conservation, research, community, educational, administrative, and organizational activities. Our objective is to maintain a relationship with website visitors, communities, beneficiaries, researchers, volunteers, donors, partners, and other stakeholders based on transparency, responsibility, confidentiality, and respect for individual privacy.

Bangladesh Nature Foundation (BNF)Protecting nature. Supporting communities. Building a sustainable future.