Community Radio: Readiness in
Bangladesh

Dissemination of Baseline Study Findings for a Way
Forward

Emphasizing on Advantages of Digital Bangladesh for the grassroots by
fulfilling “A charter for Change”, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and
Communication (BNNRC) and Community Radio Academy jointly organized a meeting
and presented research works on “Community Radio: Readiness in Bangladesh;
Dissemination of Baseline Study Findings for a Way Forward” in collaboration
with Bangladesh Institute of Social Research (BISR), Center for e-parliament
Research and Media Watch, supported by Free Voice in IDB Meeting Room,
Agargaon, Dhaka  on 19 December, 2009.

The meeting was presided by Mr. Md. Rafiqul Alam, Chairperson of board of
trust of BNNRC and  Executive Director of
Dwip Unnayan Songstha (DUS). The meeting was moderated by Dr. Akram Hossain
Chowdhury- Member of the Parliament, Chairperson of Center of e-parliament
Research and member of parliamentary standing committee on Ministry of Food and
Disaster Management of Bangladesh.

Mr. Obaidul Quader - Member of the Parliament (MP) and president of
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Information was the chief guest
in the meeting. The guest of honor, Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser,  Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr.
Mizanur Rahman Shelly- Chairman of 
Center for Development Research, Bangladesh(CDRB) and Chairman, Media
Commission, Bangladesh, Syed Marghub Morshed- former Chairman of Bangladesh
Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Mr. AKM Shamim Chowdhury- Principal
Information Officer and Director General of Bangladesh Press Institute(PIB), Mr.
Aminul Islam- Joint Secretary- Broadcasting, Ministry of Information were
present at the meeting.

The key Discussant, Mr. Shahab Anam Khan- Assistant Professor of
Jahangirnagar University was also present at the meeting. Dr. Khorshed Alam,
Chief Executive of Bangladesh Institute for Social Research (BISR), presented
the ‘research findings’ in
brief.

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh NGOs
Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), delivered the welcome speech in the
meeting. He also presented the latest updates of Community Radio Installation in
Bangladesh. He said that the Ministry of Information had already adopted the
Community Radio Installation, Broadcasting and Operation policy 2008 and had
established three committee i.e. a. National Regulatory Committee b. Technical
Sub-committee and c. Central Monitoring Committee as per the policy.

BNNRC has been running a fulltime national help desk from the adoption of
the policy for Community Radio. Side by side of its facilitation work BNNRC has
published a handbook on Community Radio. A Community Radio Academy has been
established for performing Community Radio procedures effectively and building
capacity. This Community Radio Academy has been training Community Radio
stakeholders perfectly.  6/7 training
courses and workshops has already been conducted for Community Radio operation.
The National Mass Media Institute (NIMCO) under the Ministry of Information has
conducted a month long training course for seven (7) Community Radio
stakeholders for the first time in coordination of BNNRC. According to the
Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008, there exists
tremendous Community Radio operational capacity in Bangladesh. He offered thanks
to the Ministry of Information for this.

Dr. Khorshed Alam- Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Institute for
Social Research (BISR) presented the research paper in brief according to the
research “Community Radio: Readiness in Bangladesh; Dissemination of Baseline
Study Findings for a Way Forward”. The Chief Discussant, Mr. Shahab Anam Khan-
Assistant Professor, Department of International Relation, Jahangirnagar
University, said that the government and the NGOs have to come forward with
responsibility for Community Radio operation and capacity building.

Mr. Aminul Islam, Joint secretary of Ministry of Information, said that
though Community Radio is the new concept in Bangladesh, the ministries are
working cordially for its opening up which is in final stage now.

AKM Shamim Chowdhury, Principal Information Officer and Director General
of Bangladesh Press Institute, said that the community people shall be able to
build their capacity when Community Radio would be established in the community,
he emphasized.

The guest of honor Mr. Syed Margub Morshed, former Chairman of BTRC
(Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission), said that Community Radio
is a crying need for the marginalized people and some pilot basis stations are
severely needed to establish as soon as possible for its output. We have to step
forward for the nation because of its utilities for the marginalized community.
The community radio plays a massive role for empowering local people.

The guest of honor Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelly, Chairman of CDRB, said that
when people get developed concerning creed and cast, culture, education etc,
sustainable development in the society would be ensured. There is no alternative
of Community Radio for the rural and marginalized people like the people of
marshy lands (Haor, Baor, bill etc.), and coastal islands.

The guest of honor, Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser- Secretary, Ministry of
Information, said that the Ministry is working with importance for Community
Radio. It possesses philosophical as well as fundamental utilities. The Ministry
is cordially committed to fulfill ‘A Charter for Change’.

Mr. Obaidul Quader, Member of the Parliament and President of
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Information, said that the
government is on the way to fulfill its commitment noted in the election
manifesto by starting Community Radio immediately. As per people’s need, we have
to establish Community Radio though in a small periphery. People want to see the
reflection of Community Radio. He expressed hope that necessary initiatives
would be taken to achieve the success of Community Radio. Why isn’t it possible
in Bangladesh to establish community radio if Nepal can make development
relating to information service at grass root level through Community Radio, he
added.

Ms. Shamima Akhtar- Executive Director of ASWO, Mr. Mirza S.I. Khaled-
Director of Sangkalpa Trust and Member of the Board of Trust of BNNRC, Mr.
Ekramul Kabir- Chief Executive of Samdhan and Mr. Delwar Hossain from Bangladesh
Scouts and many other people were also present in the meeting and presented
their speeches. The participants were there: Members of Parliament (MPs),
Governmental High Officials, Intellectuals, Teachers, Students, Social
Researchers, Writers, Journalists, Development Workers and Community Radio
Initiators and so forth.

Eventually, Mr. Md. Rafiqul Alam, Chairperson, Board of Trust of BNNRC
and Executive Director of Dwip Unnayan Songstha offered thanks over the
participants for the discussion at the end of the meeting.

Bazlu
______________________
AHM.
Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for
Radio and Communication(BNNRC)
&
Member, Strategy Council
UN-Global
Alliance for ICT and Development (UN GAID)
 
House: 13/1, Road:2,
Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207
Post Box: 5095, Dhaka 1205 Bangladesh
 
Phone:
88-02-9130750, 88-02-9138501
01711881647 Fax:
88-02-9138501-105
 
E-mail: ceo@bnnrc.net, bnnrc@bd.drik.net
www.bnnrc.net