Speech of AHM Bazur Rahman-S21BR, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC) on 25th October 2018 at Bangladesh International Tutorial, Dhaka, Bangladesh as the special guest
on the eve of third edition of India's International Movement to Unite Nations Bangladesh Conference, 2018.
on the eve of third edition of India's International Movement to Unite Nations Bangladesh Conference, 2018.
Respected Chairperson of the third edition of India's International Movement to Unite Nations Bangladesh Conference, 2018
Respected Guests, Teachers, and dear Students,
It is an honor to be invited to address this very important event on the third edition of India's International Movement to Unite Nations Bangladesh Conference, 2018 at the Bangladesh International Tutorial, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
I so grateful to all the organizers for kindly inviting me to this important event, Especially Mr. Akhilesh Jayakrishnan, Secretariat Member- International Division, India's International Movement to Unite Nations.
I have been invited here in my capacity as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)!
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) accredited with World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) of the United Nations and UN WSIS prize winner 2016 and Champion 2017.
BNNRC's outreach extends to local, national and international forums for communicating Knowledge for Media. BNNRC’s approach to media development is both knowledge-driven and context-sensitive, and it takes into account the challenges and opportunities created by the rapidly changing media environment in Bangladesh including community radio development giving voices to the voiceless people.
I will speak more about community radio and Media literacy, but first, let me make some remarks on the information and knowledge society for the students and on the pursuit of international development goals like SDGs!
All of you know we are living in so-called Information and Knowledge societies: As a very ordinary person (VOP) I would like to raise some questions;
My questions are:
• Who generates and owns information and knowledge in our society? Is it utilized for the private benefit of a few or the public benefit of many?
• How are knowledge and information disseminated and distributed? Who are the gatekeepers?
• What constraints and facilitates the use of knowledge by general people or student’s community to achieve their goals in line with daily life.
• Who is positioned best, and who worst- Who’s loss and who’s gain to take advantage of this knowledge and Information?
Current knowledge and information trend are:
The Information and Knowledge Society, we are told, is upon us.
The promise is for a knowledge-based society, yielding untold dividends for education, health, development, democracy, human rights, communication rights and much more.
Seamless networking and knowledge flow from major capital cities/ urban to village/rural hut- bazzer and back again.
The reality, if current trends continue, might be very different; the dream might become a nightmare
The fruits of human creativity – from academia to media, from indigenous medicines to music – are being privatized, ownership concentrated into the hands of a few, and access restricted to those who can pay only.
The airwaves, for radio, television, and telecommunications, are being sliced up and sold to the highest bidder.
The Internet, once a promising new public sphere, is increasingly commercialized and controlled;
f.The media, sell consumerism to people, and people to advertisers. And all most media radio TV and print hijacked by economic power/ highly corrupted corporate sector.
Broadcasters to Individual Casters – Everyone has Youtube, FB, and Tweeter
Based on this horrible situation: Media could contribute:
Strengthening the public domain, ensuring that information and knowledge are readily available for human development, and not locked up in private hands only;
Ensuring affordable access to, and effective use of, electronic networks in a development context, for instance by innovative and robust regulation and public investment;
Securing and extending the global commons, for both broadcast and telecommunication, to ensure this public resource is not sold for private ends;
Balancing information surveillance and censorship, Government or commercial;
Supporting student-centered media, traditional and new. Say like Student Radio, Student TV
Mr. Chairperson:
Let me now turn to community broadcasting in rural Bangladesh for Giving Voice to Local Communities in line with Youth and Youth Women.
Now I would like to share you Potentials of Community Media in Bangladesh
Community Radio has created scope for the poor and marginalized community to raise their own voice; it becomes the voice for the voiceless. This new-media outlets opened scope to establish their rights of Information and communication in the social, political, cultural and environmental arena.
Scope widened for poverty reduction and sustainable development because of the rights to raise the voice of the community and accessibility to knowledge and information.
Scope opened for the 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.
Community Radio is now able to play a more active role in Disaster
Risk Reduction (DRR) due to the establishment of an effective
linkage between the govt. departments and local/rural community.
Let me now turn to Media and Information Literacy for the Students and Teachers:
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that ‘Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Media and information literacy (MIL) equips students and teacher with competencies needed to seek and enjoy the full benefits of this fundamental human right
Media and Information Literacy (MIL) in Bangladesh is a challenging field of media development today. Student’s community cannot easily access relevant information and voice their concerns.
Media literacy also helps students to manage content and communications, and protect themselves and their families from the potential risks associated with using these services.
1. Accessing media and information: technical skills for accessing suitable media and information sources
2. Using media and information: content decoding skills and responsible strategies for applying content to one’s daily life
3. Evaluating media and information: the ability to judge the credibility, accuracy, and objectivity of sources
4. Creating media and information: critical attitude and skills in how to construct media and information
5. Participating in media: critical attitudes and knowledge of where and how to interact with journalists and editors of media, as well as with other citizens via old and new media
6. Knowing how media work: knowledge about media and information systems, organizations, routines and effects
7. Demanding media quality and rights: critical demand for and defense of good media and information sources
I am very much looking forward to developing conversations about all of these issues with you throughout the coming months, and to listen to what you have to say about how best to support from our side for starting media literacy process at your educational campus in line with Student Radio and Student TV in Bangladesh.
Thank you for listening.
