Community Radio for Development: Voices for the voiceless-14 Community Radio Stations are going to On Air first time in Bangladesh

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), since its inception, has been advocating with the government and with other organizations for the promotion of Community Radio to address critical social issues at community level, such as poverty and social exclusion, empowerment of marginalized rural groups and catalyze democratic process in decision making and ongoing development efforts.

Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh has approved 2 more Community Radio Initiators for installation and operation of community radio in Bangladesh on 20 May, 2010. Now total 14 Community Radio Stations are going to On Air first time in Bangladesh.

Initially government approved 14 Initiators like Young Power in Action(YPSA) for Sitakunda, Chittagong, Nalta Community Hospital for Satkhira, LDRO for Bogra, BRAC for- Moulivi Bazer, Barandro Community Radio for -Naogaon, Proyas for -Chapai Nababgonj, CCD for - Rajshahi, Srizoni for - Jhinaidhah, EC Bangladesh for - Munsihigonj, MMC for - Barguna and RDRS for- Kurigram, Sundarban Community Radio for Koyra(Khulna), ACLAB for - Telnaf (Cox's Bazer) and Agriculture Information Servics(AIS) for - Community Rural Radio for Amtoli (Barguna)

The main objective of community radio is to provide livelihood related information to the rural communities in an understandable way. Agriculture, education, health, disaster, women and child issues, market price, services, etc. will be cover in the community radio for the community people.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is going to celebrate World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2010. The A three days national program will be inaugurated on this grand occasion in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 17th May, Monday 2010.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated annually on 17 May since 1969 to raise the awareness of the people regarding various aspect of ICT. The event will be celebrated in Dhaka this year. The theme of this year is Theme 2010: Better city, better life with ICTs. To popularize the concept, building the awareness and to ensure people’s participation, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has chalked out an elaborate program for three days (17-19 May 2010) to observe this event.

Keeping “Digital Bangladesh” and “Vision 2021″ in view, the observance of WTISD 2010 shall comprise of an ICT based exhibition, Seminar, ICT classes and various online/offline competition at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre. The purpose of this event is to encourage the citizen of Bangladesh to contribute in building ICT based nation. The idea is to connect the unconnected and bridge the gap between lighted and unlighted in the field of ICT knowledge.

Demonstration a full-functional Community Radio Station will take place at the program venue Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on the eve of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2010 during the Three days program.

The regulatory body for telecom affairs in the country Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has been entrusted Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) and Community Radio Academy to demonstrate a Community Radio station during the program.

We hope that participants of all walk of the society, particularly honorable ministers, members of the parliament, elected representatives of various tier of local government system, academia and students, civil societies, print and electronic media, corporate sector representatives as well as common people will come across the basic features of Community Radioing through this program.

It is also important to point out here that the Ministry of Information of Government of Bangladesh has allowed 12 Community Radio Stations in Bangladesh very recently.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) acknowledges the generous support from Community Radio Initiators regarding successful implementation of this event.

To

Mr. Abul Kalam Azad
Hon’ble Minister
Ministry of Information
People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Attention
Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury
Secretary
Ministry of Information
People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Subject: Very Heartiest Congratulations for Approving Community Radio first time in Bangladesh

Dear Sir,
Greetings from Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) and Community Radio Academy www.bnnrc.net

Very heartiest Congratulations, for having a new media initiative in Bangladesh by your special effort and innovative leadership.

It is our pleasure to convey our best wishes to Ministry of information through you. We are also expressing our gratitude on behalf of our colleagues in the community radio movement, which has been moving since a decade.

You have a very efficient team to do thing in right time. You know, our rural people have capacity to improve their livelihood, but they don’t have their own media to do development communication. We think community radio will be their mouthpiece. It will be the perfect platform for policy maker, service provider, stakeholder, leaders and development partners to communicate each other by learning from the communities.

We appreciate your initiative and quick process toward rural and marginalized people to have their voice in the air by community radio.

Community Radio Academy and Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is always with you to assist in connection with strong community radio sector in Bangladesh.

We have all the time with you for community Radio Development in Bangladesh.
With best regards,


AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
Phone: 88-02-9130750, 88-02-9138501, 01711881647 Fax: 88-02-9138501-105
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it www.bnnrc.net

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), since its inception, has been advocating with the government and with other organizations for the promotion of Community Radio to address critical social issues at community level, such as poverty and social exclusion, empowerment of marginalized rural groups and catalyze democratic process in decision making and ongoing development efforts.

Today afternoon (3:15 pm ) Initially Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh has approved 12 Community Radio Initiators for installation and operation of community radio in Bangladesh first time. To ensure free flow of information and people's right to information government enacted Right to Information Act 2009. Community radio approval is a strong step to empower people in this regards.

The main objective of community radio is to provide livelihood related information to the rural communities in an understandable way. Agriculture, education, health, disaster, women and child issues, market price, services, etc. will be cover in the community radio for the community people.

Initially government approved 11 Initiators like Young Power in Action(YPSA) - Sitakunda, Chittagong, Nalta Community Hospital- Satkhira, LDRO- Bogra, BRAC- Moulivi Bazer, Barandro Community-Naogaon, Proyas-Chapai Nababgonj, CCD- Rajshahi, Srizoni- Jhinaidhah, EC Bangladesh- Munsihigonj, MMC- Barguna and RDRS- Kurigram.

One government organization to install and operate Rural Radio in Amtali under Barguna district, a rural community radio will be established by Agriculture Information Service of the Agriculture Department of Ministry of Agriculture.