Seven Community Radio Stations in the Coastal areas of Bangladesh Broadcast 176 Hours Radio Programs to address Cyclone storm MORA

Since May 29, 2017, Seven Community Radio Stations in coastal region of Bangladesh were broadcasted a total of 176 hour radio programs continuously to aware the community people to take preventive measures to address the Cyclone storm MORA.

The content of the radio programs were focused on the preparedness before, during and the post stages of the disaster for saving peoples’ life and assets. Besides, the public service announcements were also broadcasted in line with Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

The Community Radio Program were the updated weather bulletins forecasted by BANGLADESH METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT in every 15 minutes interval, Public Service Announcements, drama, prior preparatory activities for facing the cyclone, news, interviews, magazine program etc.

Interviews of Disaster expert in line with national and local , Deputy Commissioner(DC), Upazilla Nirbahi Officer(UNO), In charge of Upazilla Disaster Control Room, Deferent Government line Officials, CPP Officer, Field workers & volunteer of Red Crescent Society, responsible NGO workers, Victims, listener club leaders, youth and youth women etc. were conducted and broadcasted with a local dialect.

Through these interviews, information was shared with the communities related to the preparedness for saving lives and assets. 91 community radio broadcasters and volunteers were broadcast the programs and community peoples were tuned the radio programs to get the updates related to cyclone storm “MORA”.

Radio stations have been maintaining liaison with the disaster monitoring cells at district and upazila level. Besides, they continued contact with the representatives Red Crescent, Scouts and other disaster volunteers at local levels. The members of Radio Listener Clubs have also been initiating awareness raising campaign on the preparedness activities within the community, neighbors and relatives. CRS representatives have participated in the coordination meetings related to of Upazilla and district level Disaster preparedness and Control committee.

All seven Community Radio Stations in the coastal zone namely Community Radio Naf 99.2 of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar; Sagor Giri 99.2 of Sitakund, Chittagong, Sagor Dwip 99.2 of Hatia, Noakhali; Meghna 99.0 of Charfasion, Bhola Island, Community Rural Radio: Krishi Radio 98.2 of Amtali, Barguna, Lokobetar 99.2, Barguna Sadar and Nalta 99.2 of Kaliganj, Satkhira have been operating the special radio programs continuously.

Radio programs targeted to draw the attention of the coastal communities for equipping them properly in advance for facing cyclone “MORA” and reduce the possible damage of lives and assets. Addressing the need of the communities, the stations kept their stations on-air mode for 24 hours by managing alternative power supply generators, sufficient fuel and operators standby.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has opened a help desk centrally to contact and coordinate with the CRSs and shared the updates, relevant documents on Cyclone preparedness, available PSA and weather bulletins forecasted from Bangladesh Metrological Department. Radio station level contact points were:

Mr. Siddiqur Hossain, Station Manager In-charge, Community Radio Naf, (Tekhnaf Upazila, Cox’s Bazar) Phone: +88 01716 53 00 58, E-Mail: siddiktk.77@gmail.com

Mr. Sha Sultan Shamim, Station Manager, Community Radio Sagar Giri, Sitakunda Upazila, Chittagong, Phone: +88 01712 02 10 97 E-Mail: shamim_ypsa@yahoo.com

Mr. Faisal Uddin, Station In-charge, Community Radio Sagor Dwip, Hatia, Upazila Noakhali
Phone: +88 01700604141 E-Mail: faisalhatiya@hotmail.com

Ms. Ankhi Rani, Assistant Station Manager, Community Radio Meghna, Charfasion Upazila,
Bhola Island, Phone: +8801719848282 E-Mail: aki.radiomeghna@gmail.com

Mr. Shamim Mridha, Radio Focal person, Community Rural Radio Krishi Radio, Amtali Upazila Barguna, Phone: +8801713 68 88 89 E-Mail: shamim.crr@gmail.com

Mr. Monir Hossain Kamal, Station Manager, Community Radio Lokobetar , Barguna Sadar
Phone: +88 01716 32 71 51 E-Mail: monirkamal@gmail.com

Mr. Selim Sharier, Station Manager, Community Radio Radio Nalta, Kaliganj, Satkhira
Phone: +88 01713902783 E-Mail: selimsharier@gmail.com

Mr. Kamaruzzaman, Disaster Control Room In-charge of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), Dhaka Phone: 8801711131211 E-Mail: pc@bnnrc.net

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Bazlu
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AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR | Chief Executive Officer |
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
[Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations]

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