Community Media in Bangladesh: 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

32 Community Radio stations location map in Bangladesh

Vacuum place for Community Radio

Application for Community Radio

Sixteen Initiators Received Primary Approval for Setting up Community Radio Stations in the 2nd phase of Bangladesh

Dhaka (BNNRC) 07 November, 2013: Ministry of Information (MOI) of Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has primarily approved sixteen initiators to set up new community radio stations (2^nd stage) the subject to receive security clearance from Ministry of Home Affairs, according to a reliable source.

To ensure free flow of information and people’s right to information government enacted Right to Information Act 2009. 2^nd stage new community radio stations approval is a strong further step for voices to be heard in line with voices of the rural people in Bangladesh.

Earlier, in the 1^st batch on 22 April, 2010, Ministry of Information has approved 14 community radio stations, the number stands on 16 by adding more 2 stations in the line soon. Presently, 14 community radio stations ushered a new era by rural broadcasting 106 hours programs daily within a listeners’ community of 4.6 million of 13 upazila of the country. These programs reflect the rights and scopes of the disadvantaged community people. This neo-media has produced a neo-generation of community radio broadcasters at rural level where a total of 536 youth and youth women are contributing creativity their time, effort and thus taking part in nation-building process. The initiating organizations received approval for primary set up of community radio stations in the 2^nd phase are:

Progati Research on Grassroots Ownership and Traditional Initiative for Shaymnagar Upazila, Satkhira District ;

Aparajeyo Bangladesh for Pirganj Upazila, Rangpur District;

Bangla-German Sampreeti (BGS) for Tangail District ;

SKS Foundation for Sader of Gaibandha District ;

Voluntary Association for Rural Development (VARD) for Sunamganj District;

Somaj-O-Jati Gathan(SOJAG) for Dhamrai Upazila of Dhaka District ;

Shechashebi Bahumukhi Mahila Samajkallyan (SBSSS) for Boalia Upazila of Rajshahi District ;

Jyoti Development Foundation for Sadar Upazila of Kushtia District;

Institute of Development Affairs (IDEA) for South Surma, Sylhet District;

Nazrul Smriti Sangsad (NSS) for Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali District;

Karmojibi Nari for Bheramara Upazila of Kushtia District ;

Bandhan Society for Muksedpur Upazila, Kishoreganj District ;

Patuakhali Development Organization (PDO) for Bauphal Upazila of Patuakhali;

Coastal Association for Social Transformation for Sadar Upazila of Cox’s Bazer ;

Program for Eco-Social Development (PESD) for Sherpur Upazila, of Bogra District &

Borendra Unnayan Prochasta for Sapura Upazila of Rajshahi.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication express very heartiest congratulations to Ministry of Information for their efforts to approve more sixteen community radio stations on the basis of having their security clearance. BNNRC now started advocacy with the Government of Bangladesh to open up Community Television for Development. Hope that, community television will come into being within a short time in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication represents the community media sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media and Development Partners in Bangladesh. The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.

BNNRC has been struggling for the last 12 years to open up the community media (including Community Radio, Community Television and Community film) and giving focus on its vital role as voices of the voiceless people and has already established the Community Media News Agency (CMNA), Community Media Academy (CMA) and Monthly Community Media to share development news & building capacity for the Community Media sector in Bangladesh.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Bangladesh: Workshop on All About Radio

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

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KwgDwbwU †iwWIi P¨v‡jÄ :

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Avgxb Avj ikx`, †m‡Þ¤^i 01, 2013

Regarding Certificate Course on Community Media in Bangladesh

Date: 30 September, 2013

Dr. Sultan Hafeez Rahman

Executive Director

Institute of Governance Studies, BRAC University

SK Center (5th - 7th Floor), GP, JA-4, TB Gate,

Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212

Subject: Regarding Certificate Course on Community Media

Dear Sir,

Greetings from Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)

BNNRC is in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

BNNRC represents the community media sector to Government, Academia, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media and Development Partners.

BNNRC has been struggling for the last 13 years to open up the community media (including Community Radio, Community Television and Community film) and giving focus on its vital role as voices of the voiceless people.

Now 14 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 536 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters.

The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.

BNNRC established the Community Media News Agency (CMNA), Community Media Academy (CMA) and Monthly Community Media to share development news & building capacity for the Community Media sector in Bangladesh. We have now started advocacy with the Government of Bangladesh to open up Community Television for Development. We hope that, community television will come into being within a short time in Bangladesh.

It any course on Community Media like Community Radio, Community Television, Community Film and Social Media is introduced at this stage of its further development. We think the Community Media knowledge sharing between school of thought and school of practice will be strengthened.

School of Media and Cultural Studies of Tata Institute of Social Sciences is running post graduate diploma in community media (PGDCM) in Mumbai, India.

Therefore, we would like to draw your kind attention to give necessary direction for

introducing a certificate course on Community Media under the supervision of JATRI of

BRAC University

We strongly believe, your kind support in this dimension for strengthening and building capacity of the community media sector in Bangladesh

Wishing Your Good Health

Sincerely Yours-

With Best Regards,

AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer, BNNRC

Member

Central Monitoring Committee on Community Radio of Ministry of Information

Cc: JATRI & BRAC University

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Regarding certificate course on community media in Bangladesh

Date: 30 September, 2013

Professor Dr. Ainun Nishat
Hon’ble Vice Chancellor

BRAC University

Dhaka

Subject: Regarding certificate course on community media

Dear Sir,

Greetings from Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)

BNNRC is in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

BNNRC represents the community media sector to Government, Academia, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media and Development Partners.

School of Media and Cultural Studies of Tata Institute of Social Sciences is running post graduate diploma in community media (PGDCM) in Mumbai, India.

Therefore, we would like to draw your kind attention to give necessary direction for

introducing a certificate course on Community Media under the supervision of JATRI of

BRAC University

We strongly believe, your kind support in this dimension for strengthening and building capacity of the community media sector in Bangladesh

Wishing your good health

Sincerely Yours-

With Best Regards,

AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer

Cc: Mr. Jamil Ahmed, Chief Executive, JATRI of BRAC University, Dhaka

Community Radio Related Meeting at Ministry of Information 2008

Strengthening Rural Voices through Community Radio in Bangladesh

Strengthening Rural Voices through Community Radio in Bangladesh

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR| Chief Executive Officer|

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication|

ceo@bnnrc.net| 01711881647

Community media are widely recognized by governments, international development agencies, and civil society organizations alike as key agents of participatory development. Their reach and practices are a unique way of reaching and involving people. This is particularly true of community radio, the most prevalent of all community media, which is a vital alternative both to state owned and commercial private radio. Community radio‘s affordability and reach make it a powerful agent of social change.

Recognition of community radio as a legitimate and key element in development efforts and the potential to empower marginalized and disenfranchised communities, has pushed a number of countries to introduce laws and regulations that acknowledge community radios as a distinct media sector. In those countries an enabling environment for community radios has been created.

Despite these advances, challenges persist at global and regional level and in their joint 2010 statement the four international special UN mandated rapporteurs on freedom of expression (*) expressed their concerns at the lack of specific legal recognition of the community broadcasting sector in licensing systems which are based on criteria that are appropriate to this sector as well as the failure to reserve adequate frequencies for community broadcasters or to establish appropriate funding support mechanism .

The Ministry of Information Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh has declared Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008, which was the citizens’ expectation since the year 1998. Accordingly in April, 2010, Ministry of Information has approved 14 Community Radio Stations to operate for the first time in the country.

After the approval of license Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has allocated frequency and then the Community Radio stations started broadcasting from 2011.

These programs are quite supportive to the activities reflected in 6th 5-year plan of Government of Bangladesh, UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) Action Plan, and UN Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs) and UN Convention Against Corruption (UN CAC)

The success of the 1st batch of Community Radio stations has earned appreciation from all levels because of their commendable success. For that we give our thanks to those initiating organizations.

We are also giving thanks to the Ministry of Information that it is because of their good intention and sincere efforts which made possible a full-fledged community radio policy, the only one in South East Asia. India has got only a Guideline to operate Community Radio stations, while Nepal does not have any of this kind. In 2012 Ministry of Information has declared National Strategy for Community Radio to support implementation of Community Radio Installation, broadcast and Operation Policy.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication is promoting the advocacy with the government in relations to community radio with other organizations since its emergence from 2000. BNNRC has been addressing the community radio and community TV access issue for over a decade, helping to bridge the information gap of rural Bangladesh.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication established the Community Media News Agency (CMNA), Community Media Academy (CMA) and Monthly Community Media to share development news & building capacity for the Community Media sector in Bangladesh.

We have now started advocacy with the Government of Bangladesh to open up Community Television for Development. We hope that, community television will come into being within a short time in Bangladesh.

In this context the present status of community radio stations regarding social, economic and institutional sustainability can be pointed as below:

Social Sustainability:

i. Management Committee formed at 14 Community Radio station level

ii. Advisory Committee formed for each station that included UNO and Additional District Commissioner

iii. 2115 Listeners Clubs formed at CR Station level

iv. The present number of CR listeners is around 46,47,000

v. People of 67 Upazila under 13 districts now listen Community Radio Programs

Sustainability at Govt. level:

i. Ministry of Information declared Community Radio Installation, broadcast and operation Policy 2008.

ii. Ministry of Information prepared and declared Community Radio Strategy 2012

iii. Digital Bangladesh Strategy Paper-prepared by the Prime Minister’s Office

iv. Charter of Chang 2008

Institutional Sustainability

i. Presently 14 community radio stations are broadcasting different stations

ii. Every day all the stations are broadcasting a total of 109 hours program

iii. Code of Conduct for Community Radio formulated

iv. Gender Policy for Community Radio prepared and published

iv. Human Resource Development Policy formulation for Community Radio Stations (in process)

v. Financial Management Policy formulation (in process)

Economic Sustainability

i. Non-Profitable business model (under process)

ii. Funding of development partners

iii. Facilitation of Initiating organization

iv. Formulation and Implementation of Development Advertisement Policy

v. Sharing allocation of local and national budget/s.

vi. Community Radio Development Fund creation and operation.

Potentials of Community Radio in Bangladesh

a. Community Radio has created scope for the poor and marginalized community to raise their own voice; it becomes the voice for the voiceless. This neo-media outlets opened scope to establish their rights of Information and communication in social, political, cultural and environmental arena.

b. Scope widened for poverty reduction and sustainable development because of the rights to raise voice of the community and accessibility to knowledge and information.

c. Scope opened for exchange of dialogue between local elected representatives, govt. and NGO professionals for the sake of establishing good governance.

d. Direct linkage established between the community and the main sectors reflected in MDGs and 6th 5-year plan.

e. Scope created for Social debate, inclusion and preservation of cultural diversity by ensuring the inclusion of the marginalized community.

f. Community Radio is now able to play more active role in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) due to establishment of effective linkage between the govt. departments and local/rural community.

Already the Community radio programs have been widely accepted among the local community.14 community radio stations presently covers more than 4.6 million listeners. This journey was not a bed of roses, we are to cross ups and downs-everyday we are to face newer challenges.

The Community Radios are becoming an active ground for organizing dialogues at rural level. These dialogues will help the rural mass to find out their own voice and ensure leverage their free opinion in respect of social, economic, political ,cultural and environmental issues

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(* the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, .the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression for the Organisation of American States, and the Special Rapporteur of Freedom of Expression and the Access to Information for the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights)

Ref: WACC

Community Radios in Coastal Bangladesh in addressing Cyclone Mahasen in line with Disaster Risk Reduction

BNNRC, Dhaka 25 Sep: As part of addressing the risk of Cyclone Mahasen, Six Community Radio Stations in coastal region of Bangladesh have broadcasted 514 hours program for 5 days continuously from May 11 to May16.

The stations included: Community Radio Nalta 99.2 (Satkhira), Community Radio Sundarban 99.2(Koyra, Khulna), Community Radio Lokobetar 99.2 (Barguna Sadar), Community Rural Radio Krishi Radio 98.8 (Amtali,Barguna), Community Radio Naf 99.2 (Cox’s bazar,Tekhnaf) and Radio Sagargiri 99.2 (Sitakunda, Chittagong)

A total of 391 staffs and volunteers and more than 20,000 listeners’ club members were involved constantly in disseminating disaster preparedness message and information to the local community. They updated and informed the cyclone situation at a regular frequency. They have provided information on cyclone shelter to the community according to the disaster situation continuously updated by Meteorological department and other GOB agencies. The Community Radio stations are continuously broadcasting the updates on “Mahsen” by increasing their previous air-time in line with Standing Orders on Disaster of Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Broadcasting remained continued even at power failure/load shedding, by using alternative power supply through generator. Since the stormy weather caused power disruption all over, community radio became the only source of information to the local people.

The local community people could be able to know all the details related to cyclone and how to take precautionary measures to address this. This has saved their lives and assets, and again thus proved the essential role of community radio at grassroots level in our coastal region.

The important/significant activities done by the Community Radio:

1. The community radio stations broadcasted latest weather bulletin and other govt. directives after every 15-30 minutes. The radio staffs and volunteers produced and broadcasted different types of programs in different formats (like news, magazine, talkshow, discussion etc.) regarding pre, during and post-disaster measures.

2. The directives from Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Upa Zila Nirbahi Officer(UNO), interview of experienced Red Cross officials have been broadcasted.

3. Interviews and directives regarding early preparedness measures regarding utilization of Cyclone shelter, crop harvesting and preservation by local elected representatives like UP Chairman, Mayor, Female vice chairman and members of upazila parishads, Deputy Director of Cyclone Preparedness Committee, Agriculture officer and health officer have been broadcasted.

4. Interviews [on disaster preparedness] of local journalists, trained and experienced development activists were broadcasted. people who took shelter in the center also talked on community radio so that the others feel inspired to come to the shelter.

5. Public Service Announcement (PSA) was broadcasted by quoting bulletin of National Broadcasting Authority. Analysis and views have been broadcasted basing on the news published on national and international mass media, Members of Listeners clubs sent early warning by Mobile messages for non-covered radio region.

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR| Chief Executive Officer| Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication|ceo@bnnrc.net| 01711881647

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Community Radio Handbook 1st Edition

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Radio Listeners Club Guideline in Bangladesh

Radio is one of the most popular, cheaper (sets) and friendly media to create an easy accessible environment for the community in line with the Right to Information (RTI) as well as enter-educating the listeners. Indeed, the listeners are the main stakeholder of this intervention.

Without listeners, Radio programs and services are useless. In Bangladesh there are few Radio listeners clubs but scattered all over the country. They do not have any organogram or institutional structure even no regular internal organizational communication in between them as having no platform.

On the other hand, they have no structural or vertical linkage or connection with the Radio stations. As a result, Radio management could not know the real needs of the listeners properly; likewise, radio programs are developed without reflection of expectation of the larger numbers of listeners.

For the sake of achieving development goals of the country, listeners as well as the larger community need to be connected with radios. To ensure this, it is considered essential to structure country wide Radio Listeners Clubs within a short and set form. RLCs, thereby, will take part in developing radio programs towards achieving the development goals.

UNICEF is implementing a number of development activities in Bangladesh giving special focus on women and children related issues. The programs implementation process can best strengthened if the people participations are ensured. For prompt dissemination of information and building awareness among the communities, radio is the most prior and friendly media to connect the extreme remote communities of the country.

In this connection UNICEF has taken initiative to develop and finalize a Radio Listeners Club Guideline for the RLCs for forming, strengthening and bring them in common understanding platform for contributing their support for designing, developing and producing development-oriented appropriate radio programs. UNICEF has offer this job and Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication, as pioneer networking non-government organization took the opportunity for implementing the activities towards developing and finalizing a Radio Listeners Club Guideline. http://www.bnnrc.net/resources/publications

Community Radio Strategy Paper: National Strategy for the Implementation of Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operations Policy in Bangladesh 2012

National Strategy for the Implementation of Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operations Policy in Bangladesh 2012

http://www.bnnrc.net/resources/publications

This document details the main steps for the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) to implement the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy (CRIBOP) of 2008 published by Ministry Infromation with support from UNICEF Bangladesh.

The National Strategy for the Implementation of CR policy places the GoB at the centre, having two pivotal roles: as regulator and facilitator, to enable community radios to become full-fledged partners in the development process of Bangladesh.

As regulator, the main role of the GoB is to implement and opportunely revise the legislation for community radios, to create an enabling environment conducive to a strong CR sector. It must also ensure that national and local government officials understand the principles of CR and effectively implement the policy, supported by transparent, competent licensing, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

As facilitator, the GoB takes the leadership in promoting collaboration and establishing strategic alliances among all stakeholders to increase the chances of long-term sustainability of the CRs.

The Strategy identifies points of convergence and collaboration between community radios and several of the GoB most important initiatives, such as the Right to Information Act 2009, Vision 2021 and Digital Bangladesh, the National Strategy for Accelerated Poverty Reduction II 2009 (NSAPRII) and the Millennium Development Goals.

It also presents an assessment of the current situation in the county, in terms of enabling factors and opportunities for the establishment and growth of community radios, areas for further development and challenges ahead. Based on this assessment and the legislation itself, it sets out strategic objectives to guide the GoB’s interventions leading to a meaningful and sustainable Community Radio Sector