[cr-india] CR pilot projects in Bangladesh

[sajan venniyoor]

Pilot project: Community radio soon

Habibullah Mizan

The caretaker government is likely to allow the much-demanded community
radio stations to operate to increase people's participation in the
devolvement process of the country.

To this effect the Government will give permission for launching of some
community radio stations on pilot project basis and will consider granting
those full-fledged licences on the basis of its findings.

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) in association
with different organisations and civil society groups had been negotiating
with the government for a long time to open up community radio stations in
Bangladesh.

As a result of the strategic campaign, an eight-member high-level committee
comprising government officials and representatives from Community Radio
Advocacy Group has been formed by the Ministry of Information recently.

Md Mahbubul Alam, Director General of Bangladesh Betar was made convener of
the committee. Other members include Iftekher Hossain, Principal Information
Officer (Current Charge), Nasimul Kader Chowdhury, Deputy Director General
(News), Bangladesh Betar, Md Abdur Rouf, Director (News) Bangladesh Betar,
Mohesh Chandra Roy, Senior Engineer, Bangladesh Betar , Farha Suhrowardi,
Deputy Director (Liaison) Bangladesh Betar, Kamrul Hasan Monju, Executive
Director, Mass-Line Media Centre and AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive
Officer, BNNRC.

The committee has submitted a concept note, guideline and a regulatory frame
(draft) of Community Radio to the Secretary of the Ministry of Information.

AHM Bazlur Rahman said community radio could play an important role in
disaster management, gender equality, environment protection,
anti-fundamental activities, early marriage prevention, child mortality, and
awareness against dowry, agricultural development and many other important
issues.

Terming community radio an assistance to development he said it can play an
effective role by broadcasting the news of lost children and details of the
criminals, as it can disseminate information in the local dialect more
quickly and effectively.

During the post-disaster period, the media can play an important role by
broadcasting the needs of the affected people, he stated.

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2007/11/08/news0383.htm
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