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


January 4, 2010 | 3:59 AM Comments  0 comments

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The Role of Community Radio in Establishing Good Governance Through Right to Information in Bangladesh
Related to country: Switzerland

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

The Role of Community Radio in Establishing Good Governance
Through Right to Information in Bangladesh

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


As there is no appropriate power and opportunity to complain for marginalized population in the centered democratic society, one kind of opportunists, politicians and local administration take the chance to deprive them of their legal rights.

These marginalized rural and poor people may get an opportunity to discuss regarding these actual rights through the programs of Community Radio. Side by side, these sort of radio plays a role of mirror in the society and accelerates pro people endeavor of local administration and the politicians and arouses their responsibilities to the society.

Community Radio can play the role regarding the discussion program with community members and the personnel of different administrations reviewing the problems of community people and indicating the things to be done.

The discussion regarding local government or council or live telecast of meetings and conferences are the excellent strategies of Community Radio. In primitive society the total locality or society had been regulated by only a couple of families and the general people would hesitate to say anything. Community Radio can assist in opening the mouth of the general people. In some cases, the influential personalities do not have any way without tolerating these broadcast discussions.

Good Governance is such a system which is practiced in economics, politics, and through the use of social resources. And it is such a work process in state management that civil society can express the opinion regarding the issues of concerning interest, legal rights, and differences of opinion and can participate in every issue of state.

That means there exists less opportunity of effective participation of people in the existing governing system but in good governance system, there exists manifold opportunities for the participation of people.

Good Governance can be assorted into three stages in general .They are:

A) Good Political Governance
B) Good Social Governance, and
C) Good Economic Governance


(A) Good political Governance:
In good political governance, there exists decentralization of power and administrative authority and transparency; people’s participation and accountability exist in every stage of governance. Besides, establishment of justice and creating speedy trial exist in the boundary of good political governance.


(B) Good Social Governance: In good social governance there exists building strong civil society, establishing human rights, equality of both male and female, exchanging information especially to ensure that in Urban and Rural and make it easier, to encourage the businessmen to spend a little portion of their income in social welfare.

(C) Good Economic Governance: In good economic governance there exists some
points such as, to enhance the amount of budget necessarily regarding social development; to reform tax management, to make the information available regarding Credit and government services and to ensure the access of poor community in these kind of services; to take appropriate decisions by reviewing the impacts of trade policy of multinational companies and world trade upon the poor community people.

Amongst all the problems incessantly faced by the people of Bangladesh, poverty is one of the most. Moreover, there exists ecological imbalance, economic disparity, imbalance modernization in social infrastructure and the created problems by it, individual ownership, political unrest, inequality, encroachment of government resources/ assets, poor health services, insufficient income, violation of human rights and violence against women etc.

Though there are a plenty of sugar coated speeches in the manifestoes of political parties for confronting these problems; but in real sphere, it is not seen to make these speeches fruitful. Subsequently, it can be said in a word that, in the activities of political parties, poverty alleviation and good governance was ignored at almost all times.

In that case, CR can play a role in building necessary communication structure for making people’s participation possible in development activities/ programs. Needless to say about the development strategy that CR can put marks of success in implementing them. CR can achieve a magical success in effective partnership development and government, non governmental industrial and trade sector and market management. Even, in establishing public-private partnership and societal corporatism of industrial institution, CR can play the role of arbitrator.

How Community Radio can work in ensuring Good Governance

First, the first and foremost work of Community Radio is to give importance in keeping democratic process always advanced by keeping up its position impartial. Besides this, CR also can work as a catalyst with the government, opposition party, administration, businessmen, and civil society leaders for keeping democratic process uninterrupted, and as an aftermath, both sides become positively influenced.

To create a pressure from community and civil representatives through dialogues, talk shows, discussion programs and magazine programs so as to state, market and society can always play the pro people role. As a matter of fact, ensuring good governance is not possible if state, market and society don’t work collaboratively.

Which work Community radio can perform specifically in good governance and development.


In developing Good Political Governance

- To enhance participation of people and civil society members for accelerating the work of local government and broadcast program relating to alternative opinion.

- To create awareness in rural community regarding things to be done in drawing up local government’s budget and lengthy planning.

- To scrutinize the budget of local government and ensure transparency and accountability and to offer information regarding things to be done by the members of civil society organizations in enhancing participation of common people.

- To arrange question- answer program among local parliament member and local people through Community Radio.

- To identify service rendering sections of government and broadcast regularly regarding all information of services (what services, for whom the services are, price of service etc.) in the light of citizen charter published by them.

- To make the citizens aware in responsibilities regarding state, market and society by means of running citizen education program.

- To broadcast program regularly regarding how the citizens and the elected representatives of local government will play more responsible role in the society.

- To notify people regularly regarding the procedures of legislature, executive and judiciary; in this sphere, to inform the community people regarding the things to be done.
- To broadcast program how the community people can get good effect in achieving access of family and village court.

- To bring the local administration aside from colonial gesture and attitude and broadcast awareness raising program for keeping the community people in the role of moderator.

In developing Good Social Governance

- To broadcast program relating to building strong civil society at rural level.

- To broadcast regular program on the situation of human rights in the locality.

- To broadcast issue based program and help people participate in that program so that the community people can be able to involve themselves in development program by exchanging information.

- To encourage the business personnel so as to they are able to spend a little portion of their profit in social service. And, to receive opinion from community people regarding where this (spending the profit)
will be more effective.

- To do active participatory program planning, making and broadcast regarding different problems, potential and remedy of minor community and disabled people.

In developing Good Economic Governance

- To broadcast talk show/ conversation program at community level about increasing budget in social development sector after analyzing the budget.

- To broadcast development related program by means of interaction of both the local government and community people so that the citizens can pay tax regularly and the local government can carry out its responsibility.

- To broadcast analytical program so that the poor people can avail themselves of loan facility and they may not fall into trap in getting loan; to collect best applications/exercises from home and abroad for making the micro credit pro- people and broadcast them continuously.

- To broadcast informative programs so that the poor people can establish rights in their land as per governmental policy.

Community Radio can accelerate its victorious mission of good governance strategically by means of ensuring local community participation. Community Radio can ensure rural community participation in establishing good governance through policy making discussions with government, existing marketing system, and civil society leaders.

For more info: ceo@bnnrc.net www.bnnrc.net



July 11, 2009 | 5:04 AM Comments  0 comments



Community Radio Handbook for Good Governance and Development
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Community Radio is going to make an important place in development field in Bangladesh. Under this circumstance, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has taken initiative of publishing a Community Radio Handbook for Good Governance and Development to meet the basic needs and demands of the community radio initiators, regulators, managers, community leaders and community broadcasters in respect to setting up and operating the community radio stations successfully in Bangladesh.

This handbook will be a good compilation of all necessary chapters and key aspects of community radio operation mechanism. With the help of this Community Radio Handbook, Community Radio stakeholders will have knowledge of technical and management skills come to know about the function, management, procedure, prospect, sustainability, working environment, interest issues, culture, socio-economic status, challenges and difficulties of running Community Radio and have all concerned resources and facilities available for their progress and success.

Besides, from this handbook, a reader will also get better understanding of the relevance of community radio in poor communities; the broad applicability of community radio to a range of sectoral activities such as health, rights, education, livelihoods, and conflict prevention; the need to deepen the capacity of community radio broadcasters at all levels to conduct effective monitoring and evaluation.

This publication will be helpful for long-term preservation and sharing as a guide with the concerned policy makers, donor agencies, regulatory, technical and monitoring committee members, local administration such as, Parliamentarian, Upa Zila Chairman, Deputy Commissioners (DC), Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO), officials of the local intelligence wings and law enforcing agencies, local government and people working in this field for nation building process at different level.



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

December 6, 2008 | 11:16 PM Comments  0 comments

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Training Workshop on Community Radio: How to Get Started and Keep Going in Bangladesh
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) along with other like-minded organizations has been conducting advocacy with the Government for community radio in Bangladesh since its inception. As a consequence, the Ministry of Information recently formulated Community Radio Installation, Broadcasting and Operation Policy 2008.

Primarily 116 organizations were identified as eligible of policy approval for community radio in a meeting of the National Regulatory Committee held in the Ministry of Information on Tuesday 15 July, 2008. On 23 July 2008 Ministry of Information sent an official letter to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Home Ministry to issue security permit for the selected 116 community radio stations. As a consequence, investigation by three Government intelligence wings are working in the field level to find out required integrity, quality and legal status of the CR initiators.

From the community radio related experience, BNNRC feels deep urge that there should be an all out national initiative to train up manpower for the smooth operation of the community radio stations. With this view, BNNRC has set up a Community Radio Academy. From this academy training courses, technical support and research and development support will be given to the community radio stakeholders round the year.
In this backdrop, with main focus on the role of community radio in developing life and livelihood of the rural communities, Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy – 2008 and technical operation of Community Radio and strategy of work-plan for sustainable operation of community radio, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) organized a daylong training workshop on Community Radio: How to Get Started and Keep Going in Bangladesh at IDB Auditorium in Dhaka on Wednesday, 27 August, 2008.

A total of 136 representatives from 98 community radio initiators including non-government development and research organizations took part in the workshop.
Session 1 and 2: Key Concept and Guideline of Community Radio and Community Radio Policy in Bangladesh and statutory Requirements to Operate the Community Radio
Chief Executive Officer of BNNRC AHM Bazlur Rahman presented welcome address and presented key concepts of community radio operation and CR policy 2008 in the workshop. In his presentation, he said, it is high time the community radio initiators could design a business plan and work plan for a full-fledged community radio studio and station in the respective community location. So, every initiator should have a clear concept of the policy level and technical level expertise regarding setting up a community radio.
In this regard, Mr Rahman presented a pictorial discussion on four types of broadcasting systems, special features, preparation works, frame-work and community involvement in a community radio station. During the question-answer session, CR initiators demanded reducing the importing tax from the community radio equipments and minimum charge for BTRC frequency allotment for community radio as it is the starting period of CR operation in Bangladesh.

Session 3: Community Radio Technology
Technical Expert of Community Radio Academy Mr. Sohel Awrangzeb presented a paper on technical aspect including studio set up, equipments, production and broadcasting techniques and budget for a community radio station. In his presentation, Mr Awrangzeb gave a pictorial description of pre and post readiness of the studio, transmission, indoor and outdoor broadcasting, recording, editing and program production system of a community radio station. Through question-answer session, participants came to know the technical aspects in details regarding commencement of community radio operation.

Session 4: Gender Relations and Development (GRD) in Community Radio Operation
At the forth working session, Consultant of BNNRC Mr. A H M Abdul Hai presented a paper on Gender Relations and Development in Community Radio Operation while Researcher of Institute of Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) Ms. Shaila Simi was in the chair. A proposed gender policy in community radio mentioning women's access to the airwaves, women's representation on air, special needs of minority women, women's representation at all levels of station management, use of appropriate technology and funding and capacity building for women's radio complying with the gender policy for CRS by AMARC-WIN AP was presented at the workshop.
The respondents called for greater access to leadership, management, finances and the whole cycle of CR set-up. They also recommended changes in the program contents and participation in the various stages of production. Among the recommendations of the policy include training for women; use of free and open source software, a quota of at least 30 per cent for women's leadership and representation; and special radio programs for women. The policy also suggested more practical measures such as space allotment for child-care; flexible working hours; women-friendly equipment set-up and broadcast schedules; adequate lighting and security at the station; and transportation arrangements for women who live in remote areas.
Session 5: Plenary Session
At the plenary session, participants expressed their valued suggestions regarding way forward to enhance their capacity and skills in program production, broadcasting, technical set-up and operation of community radio stations. In this respect, NGO leaders stressed on the regular training and capacity building workshops for the community radio human resources from Community Radio Academy.
They also gave much emphasis on the active role of National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC) in arranging training courses on community radio operation. They hailed the BNNRC initiative of opening national help desk in its secretariat for all out information and technical support to the community radio initiators and establishment of Community Radio Academy.
From this academy training courses, technical support and research and development support round the year are highly expected by the community radio stakeholders. Moreover, conducting a national baseline survey on CR, producing a national geographical map marking the CR locations, developing training curriculum, handbook and arranging annual conference have been planned under the activities of Community Radio Academy.
In the workshop, development organizations declared their commitment of distributing a large number of free radio sets among their stakeholders to ease the community radio listening for the poor community people.


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

September 1, 2008 | 5:08 AM Comments  0 comments

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We invite you to join Community Radio initiative in Bangladesh
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Community Radio has a very special place in BNNRC's intervention. The objective of BNNRC 's Community Radio intervention is to address crucial social issues at community level, such as poverty and social exclusion, empower marginalized rural groups and catalyze democratic processes and on going development efforts. You know BNNRC is promoting the advocacy with the government in relations to community radio with other organizations since its emergence.

Role of Community Radio in rural areas like give voice to the people who normally have no access to the mass media nor opportunity to express their views on community development, Speeds up the process of informing the community and therefore acts as a catalyst of change, Promote the right to communicate, assist the free flow of information and opinions, encourage creative expression and contribute to the democratic process and a pluralist society;

Provide access to training, production and distribution facilities; encourage local creative talent and foster local traditions; and provide program for the benefit, entertainment, education and development of their listeners.

Seek to have their ownership representative of local geographically recognizable communities or of communities of common interest. Provide a right of access to minority and marginalized groups and promote and protect cultural and linguistic diversity. Seek to honestly inform their listeners on the basis of information drawn from a diversity of sources and provide a right of reply to any person or organization subject to serious misrepresentation. Community Radio helps to put the community members in charge of their own affairs

As a result Ministry of Information of People's Republic of Bangladesh has announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008 for the first time in Bangladesh. The Ministry of information has also formulated three committees i.e National Regulatory Committee, Technical Sub Committee and Central Monitoring Committee to look after the smooth operation of community radio in Bangladesh.

By the way the technical sub-committee formed in accordance with the community radio policy 2008, sent a list of 124 Government and non-government organizations after sorting out of 180 applications to the National Regulatory Committee headed by Information Secretary. This committee selected 116 organizations eligible for license on Tuesday 15th July, 2008. Notably, 400 organizations drew application forms from the Ministry but only 180 submitted their applications for license. Having insufficient documents, papers and qualifications for the license, applications of those organizations have been ineligible of the consideration for license.

BNNRC provided technical assistance to around 200 organizations in the community radio application process through a National Help Desk on Community Radio in BNNRC Secretariat in Dhaka. Through this experience we have felt that a pro active institution should be activated to create necessary human resource, research and development and technical cooperation for Community Radio in Bangladesh.

In this backdrop, BNNRC has established Community Radio Academy. The Academy is going to provide community radio related training, technical assistance and other support round the year. We hope community radio to be the alternative and strongly effective mass media for the rural disadvantaged population to express their thinking in their own voice.

We invite you to join Community Radio initiative in Bangladesh.
ceo@bnnrc.net

July 30, 2008 | 9:17 AM Comments  0 comments

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