What role can community media play in helping to accelerate democracy and good governance in Bangladesh?   

A H M Abdul Hai interviewed AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of BNNRC at the end of the year 2008 at Dhaka. During the interview, Mr Rahman explained the critical role of community media played in ensuring democracy and good governance in Bangladesh. Below see excerpts from the interview.

A H M Abdul Hai: How will be the role of community radio to rescue the democratic rights as well as establish the same for rural people in perspective and scenario of the local condition of Bangladesh?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: Equity, freedom, and alliance are the major speeches of democracy. Freedom of expression is a significant right of common people. It is quite impossible to upright or bring into sight the needs, the rights and the miseries of the common people by themselves before the government without communication of information. People, through communication and information, can be caught sight of the government and other sectors at ease and gradually they are able to restore the lost and the logically deserved democratic rights. In this sphere, community radio can play an extraordinary role as a catalyst to ensure the right to say about their feelings and opinions as well as demands and claims.

A H M Abdul Hai: How can other sectors of ICT stand a good stead for the people of remote area?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: There are a plenty of areas in Bangladesh where the people do not have electricity access, media access, good communication and transport access, access of notifying opinion to the representative of government and development workers and so forth. Community radio can play an extraordinary role in developing the condition of living standard, and all above facts. Information is the oxygen of democracy .If people do not come to know about the happenings in the society, if the actions of those who rule them are hidden, then they cannot take a meaningful part in the affairs of that society. And information is not just a necessity for people-it is an essential part for good governance.

A H M Abdul Hai: It is said that knowing information is no longer a privilege, rather it is a right for every person to take part in actions of state?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: There is no denying the fact that - knowledge of information is the right for every citizen. Then they must be able to avail themselves of some opportunities they needed. Needless to say, the community people will be able to raise awareness and speak for themselves .Community radio programs will inform people that freedom of speech and freedom of expression are the people’s rights, not just a media person’s rights. We will educate the people about their rights, using programmes very strategically to attract the attention of the people, arranging a plenty of unique events.

A H M Abdul Hai: How many community radio stations are there currently in Bangladesh?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: Presently no community radio station is in operation in Bangladesh. Only Bangladesh Betar (Radio), which is operated and run fully under the control of Ministry of Information of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh covering the whole country.

A H M Abdul Hai:  How can a community radio work for my the benefit of a farmer?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: Farming is going on with the help of modern technology in the whole world. Agricultural technology is changing everyday, because it is not enough to increase production rather it needs high rate of increasing. But the farmers of our country know little of the modern technology. The farmers of the European and American countries are producing 100 times more crops than the amount of crops our farmers cultivate in an acre of land. So our farmers need the information of the modern technology and novel strategy for agriculture. Community radio can be their real friend in this regard. 

A H M Abdul Hai: How can the oppressed women get help from community radio? 

AHM Bazlur Rahman: The oppressed women need urgently a legal support. Most of the people in our country fear or avoid legal aspects but legal aid is not tough to receive now in Bangladesh. Especially a number of Government and non-government organizations are working in the country to provide legal support to the oppressed women. Community radio can reach this information to the oppressed women. For example, Acid Survivors’ Foundation of Dhaka provides emergency treatment to the women acid victims. They also bear transport cost for the poor women acid survivors to travel from and to Dhaka. Besides emergency and effective treatment, they also provide legal support and alternative employment facilities to the women acid victims. Community radio can broadcast this information regularly. Community radio can also arrange and broadcast discussion meetings on what to do regarding domestic torture, acid attack, rape or sexual harassment and where to communicate to get help etc. for the oppressed women.

A H M Abdul Hai: What type of help can a community radio offer regarding the Government facilities and services such as VGF, Elderly Grant at the Upazila and Union level? 

AHM Bazlur Rahman: The villagers will easily get the information like who deserve the Government support, where to get, how and how much you can get and from which office of the local administration and government you can get these facilities. For example, many mass media announce that you can get this facility in your nearest Union Council office, but many of you can not understand it clearly. Community radio can tell you specifically that you can get VGF at Sujanagar Union Council. You have to contact with Mr Keramat for the VGF in the Upazial office. Thus community radio can give you information regarding Government facilities and services.

A H M Abdul Hai: Do you think there can be a future for community TV in Bangladesh?

AHM Bazlur Rahman Yes, there is a good prospect and potential of community TV in Bangladesh and BNNRC will start policy advocacy soon for a community TV policy.

A H M Abdul Hai: What role can a community radio play in case of any serious accident, robbery, fire incident in the area? 

AHM Bazlur Rahman: In these cases, the role should be two dimensional. Firstly, community people should inform the community radio of the accident and then community radio station can reach the people of other area, police and fire service department very fast. If a robbery is happening in a house in the southern part of the area and the police station is in the northern part, community radio can inform the police station as soon as they get the information.

A H M Abdul Hai: How can we get help of community radio for local news and to solve the local problems through local administration? 

AHM Bazlur Rahman: Community radio can broadcast such a programme where Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) or Union Council Chairman might be present and listeners can ask or inform them some problems through the community radio programme directly. If UNO is busy, he also can reply the questions of the listeners even staying in his office. Moreover, he can also be a regular listener of the community radio. Then he can easily get the information of the local problems easily from the community radio.

A H M Abdul Hai: Do you think the number of community radio stations will grow?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: As Bangladesh government has announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy – 2008 on 12 March 2008 and about 116 organizations are in the process of having license from the Government.

A H M Abdul Hai: Are they all operating legally with an official license?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: Bangladesh Betar is operating, of course, legally and all ensuing community radio stations will operate legally with official license of the Government.

A H M Abdul Hai: Who is responsible for issuing broadcast licenses? And do you think this body is able to operate independently from Bangladeshi Government?

AHM Bazlur Rahman Ministry of Information of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh is responsible for issuing the broadcast license and this body is able to operate independently.

A H M Abdul Hai: Can you give me a short impression about the content of Bangladeshi community radio broadcasts? In particular, what are important, eye-catching or striking subjects dealt with?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: The program contents of the community radio broadcast service focus on agriculture, both adult and children education, gender, primary health, environment, social welfare, current market prices, demand for agro products, rural and community development, baby care, maternity health care, family planning (radio bulletin), income generation etc. The programming reflects the special interests of the community to be served.

A H M Abdul Hai: Who are the closest allies of BNNRC, both national and international?

AHM Bazlur Rahman: BNNRC has been working closely with Ministry of Information of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh being an active member of different strategy committees. BNNRC has also been working with Cordaid for last three years on policy advocacy for Community Radio in Bangladesh. BNNRC is a network member of AMARC under federation category and is willing to work with AMARC in future much more closely.

A H M Abdul Hai: Are there any community TV stations in Bangladesh? Is it possible under current law to start community TV stations?

AHM Bazlur Rahman No, there is no community TV station in Bangladesh and it is not possible to start community TV station under current law.

A H M Abdul Hai: If you have any other remarks on Bangladeshi community media, we would really like to hear them.

AHM Bazlur Rahman The situation of Community media in Bangladesh is very fragile, weak and vulnerable. Some community media such as Jatra, Jari, Shari and other folk media culture are deteriorating. Now after formulation of the Community Radio policy 2008 and government initiative of permitting community radio set-up have created a positive and enabling environment for the flourishing of community media now and onward. To accelerate this trend, BNNRC opened a national help desk on community radio in its central secretariat and provided technical support to the interested organizations for community radio installation and operation. Moreover, BNNRC has established a Community Radio Academy in Dhaka and is providing capacity building training and other policy and technical support to the stakeholders.