Community Media in Bangladesh: 2016

Monday, October 10, 2016

UNICEF Meena Media Award 2016 5 Community Radio Stations take a bow for Championing Child Right

Community Radio received 7 out of 12 prizes in Radio Category of UNICEF Meena Media Award 2016. Five Community radio stations in rural Bangladesh received 7 awards in radio category in Meena Media Award-2016 for their outstanding contribution in innovation in media and protection of child rights in the year 2015.

As in every year, UNICEF Bangladesh has organized this competition to encourage the journalists and broadcasters to highlight the child rights issues in media. A total of 48 media professionals have been honored for their outstanding contribution in championing the rights of the children.

This year, the 12^th Meena Media Award has been announced on 09 October 2016 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. Hon’ble Minister for Ministry of Information H E Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, MP and Mr. Dzidula Masiku on behalf of UNICEF Bangladesh handed over the crest, award money and certificate to the winners.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) actively works to improve recognition of the community electronic media sector [Community Radio | Community TV | Community Film] & its work in and involvement with the communities it seeks to serve from 2000 with support from Free Press Unlimited(FPU).

The first, second and third award recipients of each category and age-groups received BDT 50,000(US $ 600), BDT 25,000(US$300) and BDT 15,000 (US$190) in cash prizes respectively in addition to a crest. The five community radio stations received BDT 1,60,000 (US$ 1952 ) in cash altogether.

The winning stations are: Community Radio Pollikontha 99.2, Community Radio Borendra 99.2, Community Radio Bikrampur 99.2, and Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2 FM and Community Radio Chilmari.

Responding to the call of UNICEF-Bangladesh earlier Community radio stations of the country participated and submitted their radio programs in the competition under two categories –below and above 18 years of age. These programs reflected important issues like child education, present situation of female child and the children from horijon/dalites community, child marriage/early marriage, evolution of children organizations, child marriage in Dalit community, suicide of children, negligence of girl child in the community, life-threatening livelihood of child labors, drug addiction and its effects on family and society.

Out of these submissions, 07 have received the final award.

Dividing into “Creative” and “Reporting” categories within 02 age groups below and above 18 years, entries have been sought from print, online, television and radio under specific age groups.

The final awardees are as follows:

Innovation and creative category (below 18 years): 1^st prize: Md. Kamaruzzaman, Community Radio Pollikontha 99.2. Second Prize: Sharan Majumda, Community Radio Borendra 99.2,Third Prize: Sumi Akter, Community Radio Bikrampur 99.2.They received all three top awards by contesting government, private and international broadcasters.

Innovation and creative category (above 18 years): 3rd prize: Sutapa Rani Pal, Community Radio Pollikontha 99.2 fm. The contestants from Government broadcasting- Bangladesh Betar and Private FM ABC Radio received the 1^st and 2^nd prize respectively in this category.

News Report/Investigative Reporting category (below 18 years): 1^st and 2^nd prize: Shajedul Islam and Tajmin Rashid Taj from Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2. The third winner was one contestant from private FM Asian Radio.

News Report/Investigative Reporting category (above 18 years) : 3rd prize: Polash Mahmud from Community Radio Chilmari 99.2 fm. The 1^st and second prize were won by the participants from Radio Today and International broadcaster BBC Bangla.

The award nominees were selected by a panel of judges through a competitive process from print, on-line and broadcast media. Broadly divided into “Creative” and “Journalistic” categories, entries have been sought from print, online, television and radio under specific age groups.

An eleven member expert panel of judges comprising of creative writers, veteran media professionals, and academics assessed each entry which included – Selina Hossain, Shahnoor Wahid, Robaet Ferdous, Fahmidul Haque, Zakir Hossain Raju, Qadir Kollol, Ratan Paul, Mithila Farzana, Rafiqur Rahman, Jannatul Mawa and Abu Naser Siddique.

For selection in Radio category, the judges were Qadir Kallol (BBC), Ratan Paul(Dhani Chitra Media Ltd.) and Mithila Farzana (Ekattar TV).

It can be mentioned that four community radio stations in the country received 13 awards in radio category in Meena Media Award -2015 for their contribution to innovation in media and protection of child rights in the year 2014.

BNNRC has been encouraging and mobilize the stations and facilitating them for submission of their programs in the Meena Media Award. Now 17 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 135 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 1000 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters within 6.18 million rural people in 115 upazillas under 29 districts.

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Bazlu

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www.bnnrc.net

Sunday, July 17, 2016

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been selected as a fellow at the IGF Academy

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been selected as a fellow at the IGF Academy.

BNNRC Leads Supports and Advocates for the Initiators to actively provide independent community media development (Community Radio, TV & Film) in Bangladesh since 2000 with support from Free Press Unlimited.

IGF Academy was initiated by iRights in March 2016. It aims to foster freedom of expression on the Internet and inclusive and transparent national Internet governance and policy processes. Fellows from four African and four Asian countries will be supported in the creation and/or consolidation of multi-stakeholder, national Internet governance structures.

The UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF) serves to bring people together from various stakeholder groups as equals, in discussions on public policy issues relating to the Internet. While there is no negotiated outcome, the IGF informs and inspires those with policy-making power in both the public and private sectors. At their annual meeting delegates discuss, exchange information and share good practices with each other. The IGF facilitates a common understanding of how to maximize Internet opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise.

The UN IGF is also a space that gives developing countries the same opportunity as wealthier nations to engage in the debate on Internet governance and to facilitate their participation in existing institutions and arrangements. Ultimately, the involvement of all stakeholders, from developed as well as developing countries, is necessary for the future development of the Internet.

The academy offers its fellows mentoring from internationally renowned experts in the Internet governance process and a platform for peer-learning and networking among experts locally, regionally and at a global level. Fellows will also take part in regional workshops with peers from other countries, as well as in the global Internet Governance Forum (IGF). The IGF Academy thus contributes to a (cross) regional and UN global dialogue on freedom of expression and information preparing for the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

The IGF Academy is run by iRights in cooperation with Association of Progressive Communication (APC) and LIRNEasia and funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

The fellowship will provide experienced individuals with the opportunity to receive mentoring from internationally renowned Internet governance practitioners, deepen their understanding of Internet governance issues and processes, expand their networks nationally, regionally and globally, develop a strategic roadmap to strengthen existing or initiate inclusive national Internet Governance processes in their countries, peer learning with experts from their country, their region and cross-regionally, participate in a regional training event, participate in a training event at the global IGF, participate in the global UN IGF 2016 in Guadalajara, be part of a (cross)regional and UN global dialogue on freedom of expression and information preparing for the UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

Presently AHM Bazlur is one of the founder member of Bangladesh Working Group on UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS), Community Radio Monitoring Committee, and National Broadcasting Act Drafting Committee 2016 of Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, founder member of Bangladesh UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF), and Multi-stakeholder Steering Group Members of Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum. More information about IGF Academy: http://igf.academy/#about-igf-academy

Saturday, June 25, 2016

"We appreciate and welcome BNNRC for bringing WSIS prize 2016 to Bangladesh," Information Secretary Mortuza Ahmad

DHAKA, May 15, 2016 (BSS)- Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communications (BNNRC) has won a category prize from the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) this year.

The NGO received the prize in the 'mass media category', one of the 18 categories for WSIS Prize, and it was handed over to BNNRC's chief executive officer AHM Bazlur Rahman in Geneva on May 3, Information Ministry sources said here today.

"We appreciate and welcome BNNRC for bringing this prize to Bangladesh," Information Secretary Mortuza Ahmad told AHM Bazlur Rahman when he called on him at his information ministry office here.
He said the credit for the award should go to 60 women journalists who have been working for the 16 community radios across the country.

The Information Secretary said this was a great recognition to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who has pioneered community radio in Bangladesh. He said the award came for a successful project carried out by BNNRC in rural areas between 2013 and 2015.

The project identified talented rural women and trained them for print and broadcast journalism to get employed in local press and community radio programmes.

The rural journalists produced 500 feature stories and 800 radio programmes on health, child marriage, violence against women and social injustices during the period.

Community Radio Stations in Coastal Bangladesh in addressing Cyclone ROANU in Disaster Risk Reduction

As part of addressing the risk of Cyclone ROANU, eight community radio (CR) stations in the coastal region of Bangladesh broadcast 348 hours program hours for 3 days continuously from May 19 to May 21, 2016

The Community Radio stations broadcast and served on 24-hours basis to keep alert the community during and after the cyclone Rohnau hit in the coastal belt of the country. There are eight community radio stations situated in the coastal region that played a big role in saving people’s lives and assets.

Following the cyclone warning signals the stations started broadcasting from 19 May afternoon and continued non-stop till midnight of 21^st May. During the time they have broadcasted 348 hours, of those 187 hours are fully around the message and information on cyclone-Roanu, the disaster, it’s after-effects and what should be done for the community.

The CR stations continuously broadcast the updates by increasing their previous air-time in line with the "Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) of Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh".

The stations collected updated information from Meteorological Department, the disaster cells and local control room set up by the District and Upazila administrative authority. As there was no electricity in the area during the time, they were to depend fully on the generator and keep the broadcasting service un-interrupted.

The community radio stations maintained full-time liaison with the disaster monitoring cells at district and Upazila administration. They also kept contact and collected updated information from the Red Cresent volunteers and the scouts who were working hard with the disaster-prone community.Along with broadcasting message and PSAs received from the local government authority, they also broadcasted their own programs which they have learned and produced through training and their experiences from previous disasters.

With broadcasting of weather news bulletin after every 10-15 minutes, they also broadcasted magazine program, drama, feature, interview and talk show of the responsible persons involved in disaster management in the area. As an offline support group, the members of the radio listeners clubs also took part in the process of fulfilling the objective of the station. They visited the house-to-house of the listeners and disseminated information on the latest situation of the cyclone, their contact points during an emergency, what types of services available for them during rescue or rehabilitation community. At the same time, they also supplied information to the radio stations and kept them updated about the community situation.

Eight radio stations are Community Radio Nalta 99.2 ( Kaligonj, Satkhira), Community Radio Sundarban 98.8 ((Koyra, Khulna), Community Lokobetar 99.2 (Barguna Sadar), Community Rural Radio Krishi Radio 98.8 (Amtoli, Barguna), Community Radio Naf 99.2 (Teknaf, Cox's Bazar), Community Radio Sagargiri 99.2 (Sitakunda, Chittagong), Community Radio Meghna 99.00 (Charfasion, Bhola) and Community Radio Sagardwip 99.2 (Hatiya, Noakhali).

Broadcasting continued even at power failure/load shedding, by using alternative power supplies through generators. Since the stormy weather caused power disruption all over, Community Radio stations became the only source of information to the local people so that they could know all the details related to the cyclone and how to take precautionary measures to address their safety. This saved many lives and assets, and thus proved the essential role of Community Radio stations at a grassroots level in our coastal region.

A total of 116 Community broadcasters (Female 37, Male 79) and volunteers and members from 175 listeners clubs worked throughout the whole service. The broadcasters continued broadcasting service on shifting basis.

It can be mentioned that Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has supported the radio stations during the times of cyclone Mahasen and Komen and thus helped to save the lives and assets of millions of the coastal region. BNNRC kept constant coordination with those stations and provided information and guidance in the whole process.

AHM Bazlur Rahman made Jury Member of Newcomer of the Year in Journalism - Hans Verploeg Awards 2016

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR, a celebrated community media policy advocate, and journalist has been selected as one of the member in the jury panel for the second time that will pick the winner of the Free Press Unlimited Newcomer of the Year in Journalism - Hans Verploeg Awards 2016, the Netherlands.

Free Press Unlimited Newcomer of the Year in Journalism - Hans Verploeg Awards 2016, the Netherlands recognizes talented new journalists who have put in a strong performance when it comes to reporting the news. Nominee demonstrates exceptional commitment to press freedom and independent coverage and use innovative methods to disseminate the information. They show extraordinary dedication to journalism as a means to hold those in power accountable and to serve as a watchdog in the public interest. They manage to share stories that would otherwise be left untold. For more information: https://www.freepressunlimited.org/en/free-press-awards-2016

Hans Verploeg died May 25, 2010. He devoted his working life to spreading and protecting free speech, nationally and internationally. He was 25 years tireless Secretary General of the Dutch Association of Journalists and was co-founder of the Foundation for Development Communication, which later went into Free Voice, which he was president until his death in 2010. As a member of the International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, Verploeg was very much concerned with the safety of journalists in threatened areas, and he did not hesitate to speak to governments when journalists work impossible and gave no space to free speech. For his work, Hans Verploeg received on 6 March 2012 posthumously awarded the Prize of the Free Word awarded by the International Press Centre Nieuwspoort. Hans Verploeg was to protect freedom of the press more than work, it was his way of life in line with Fighting injustice, convincing authorities, human honor.

Hans Verploeg Awards is widely recognized as the most prestigious award for journalists. The winner of the Free Press Unlimited Newcomer of the Year in Journalism - Hans Verploeg Awards 2016 will receive a media scholarship as well as an expenses –paid visit to Netherlands where the award will be conferred in person at the Free Press Award ceremony on the 2 November 2016. During the yearly ceremony on the International Day to End Impunity, Free Press Unlimited will also recognize exceptional work in the category Most Resilient Journalist.

The jury panel member AHM Bazlur has more than 20 years’ experience in leveraging community media/media and the right to communication to create successful policy advocacy in Bangladesh in line with community media development. He is one of the founder of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC). BNNRC devoted entirely to Promote Community Media for Development (CM4D) and leads supports and advocates for the initiators to actively provide independent community broadcasting in Bangladesh.

AHM Bazlur is the first Bangladeshi community media journalist and Media Policy Advocate to sit on the jury panel for the Newcomer of the Year in Journalism - Hans Verploeg Awards 2016, the Netherlands.

Presently he is one of the founder member of Bangladesh Working Group on UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS), Community Radio Monitoring Committee, and National Broadcasting Act Drafting Committee 2016 of Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, founder member of Bangladesh UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF), and Multi-stakeholder Steering Group Members of Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum

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Bazlu

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www.bnnrc.net

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

WSIS Award

WSIS

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication’s (BNNRC) wins UN World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Prize 2016

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication’s (BNNRC) received the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) prize 2016. The World Summit on the Information Society Forum presented the award on May 3 as part of the WSIS Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. The WSIS forum is co-organized by ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD, and the UNDP with the engagement of other United Nations Agencies , including WIPO, UNDESA, FAO, ILO, ITC, UNODC, UNEP,UPU, WMO, WHO, WFP, UN Women and the UN Regional Commission.

The prestigious prize was awarded in recognition to BNNRC’s successful implementation of the project on Youth Women in Community Media and Journalism - the beginning of a new era in rural broadcasting journalism of Bangladesh supported by the Free Press Unlimited.

After an intensive Online Voting phase, which ended on March 10th 2016, BNNRC’s project was among the most voted. Upon the Expert Group’s review of the 5 top voted projects, BNNRC has been selected as the winning one. The WSIS competition was among the 311 projects submitted for the online voting. The best prizes were announced following 245,000 online voting by the WSIS members. In addition to a total of 18 WSIS prize winners, 70 runners-up projects were also recognized as WSIS Prize 2016 Champions.

AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of BNNRC in his message said, we are indeed honored to have received this award. All of us at BNNRC are extremely proud that our work has been given this appreciation and recognition by the international community. BNNRC is grateful for this recognition. But BNNRC is not a winner. The real winners are 60 youth women community radio journalists those are working with 16 community radio stations in Bangladesh for ensuring voices of the voice-less in line with the poverty of voice.

BNNRC’s project, which was recognized for excellence in the implementation of the project, highlights the ‘voices of the rural people’ which essentially is the core of the rural broadcasting journalism programme, especially for the female journalists.

The youth women journalists, aged between 18 and 30, prior to joining their responsibilities in community radio broadcasting programmes and feature writing in local newspapers, were exposed to customised media training to strengthen understanding of reporting, news and script writing and editing during their fellowship programme held in three separate batches ranging from 3-6 months during 2013 and 2015. During the short-lived fellowship, the school and college graduate fellows joined as producers, anchors and reporters in 16 regional community radio stations some of which are located in remote coastal islands and in river banks. In pursuit of their fellowship programmes the youth women produced over 800 radio programmes and about 500 newspaper reports which largely focused on messages to free the society from the traditional caste system, good practices in health for women and children, end early marriages , social discrimination, violence against women, promote education, establish human rights and give more voices to the marginalized people.Using the information technology in broadcasting the empowered youth women journalists, the majority (40) of who come from Dalit families or the lowest caste in the society, demonstrated how the chemistry of creating opportunities and utilizing information technology can change the society – one of the most important criteria for nomination for the WSIS award.

The goal of WSIS is to achieve a common vision, desire, and commitment to building a people-centric, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information. The WSIS Forum 2016 represents the world's largest annual gathering of the ‘ICT for development’ community.

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Sunday, January 31, 2016

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

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.

Seven Community Radio Stations operated in coastal region of Bangladesh are now continuously broadcasting

65 hours program to address the upcoming cyclone `komen’ in line with Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) of Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

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.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication 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. BNNRC has been addressing the community radio & community TV access issue for over a decade, almost since its emergence in the year 2000.

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. We hope that, community television will come into being within a short time.

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

Bangladesh is going to Observe 5th World Radio Day: Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster 13 February, 2016

5th World Radio Day 2016 is going to be observed in local and national level in Bangladesh on 13 February 2016. In the mean while, all radio station like Public Service Broadcasting, Private Broadcasting and Community Broadcasting are preparing them for celebrating the day 5th time in Bangladesh. The theme for this fourth edition is Radio in Times of Emergency and Disaster

In this occasion, Public Service Broadcasting, Private Broadcasting and Community Broadcasting initiators will arrange a Colorful Rally, Seminar, Cultural Program and Antic Radio Set Exhibition at local and national level. Representative from media, practitioners, civil society members, administration and delegates from different level of the society will be invited in the event. Besides, 12 Bangladesh Betar (Radio) regional stations, 14 Private FM radio stations and 16 Community Radio stations in outside Dhaka will organize colourful rally and seminar on the occasion.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has started advocacy process on observing the world radio day in Bangladesh on 13 February in collaboration with public service Broadcasting, Commercial broadcasting & Community Broadcasting at local and national level. As a result World Radio Day Observation National Committee was formed to observe the day locally & nationally by Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Welcome 17th Community Radio Station in Bangladesh -Community Radio Sarabela 98.8

The 17th Community Radio Sarabela 98.8 is going on-air from Gaibandha District of Northern part of Bangladesh by March 2016.

SKS Foundation is initiated community radio Sarabela 98.8. There are many perennial islands, called 'Char' in the Jamuna River. People in Char areas suffer from perennial natural disasters being deprived of basic human needs such as health, education, communication and information services.

Now the rural and marginalized community people of Gaibandha district will have direct access to discuss their own issues through Community Radio Sarabela 98.8. Having a radio at their doorsteps, now the community people will have scope to reflect on their problems and prospects in their local dialect in line with reducing voice poverty.

Presently, 16 community radio stations are on-air and they are broadcasting 125 hours programs per day. A total of nearly 1000 young youth and youth women are involved as broadcasters in those stations. Community radio stations are going to be popular in our country; it’s approximate audience number is 5.6 million.

Potentials of Community Radio in Bangladesh are 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, Scope widened for poverty reduction and sustainable development because of the rights to raise voice of the community and accessibility to knowledge and information, Scope opened for exchange of dialogue between local elected representatives, govt. and NGO professionals for the sake of establishing good governance, Direct linkage established between the community and the main sectors reflected in SDGs and 7th 5-year plan, Scope created for Social debate, inclusion and preservation of cultural diversity by ensuring the inclusion of the marginalized community and 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.

Community Radio Sarabela 98.8 is supported by Embassy of Japan and Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF). Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), an apex development organisation, was established by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) in May 1990, for sustainable poverty reduction through employment generation.

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 with the support from Free Press Unlimited.