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Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Community Radio Initiators

From Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication:(BNNRC)The second “Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Community Radio Initiators” took place on 23 February 2011 at IDB Bhaban meeting room, Agargaon, Dhaka. The program was organized by Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) under the support of UNICEF Bangladesh. A total of 25 representatives from 14…

From Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication:
(BNNRC)The second “Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Community Radio Initiators” took place on 23 February 2011 at IDB Bhaban meeting room, Agargaon, Dhaka. The program was organized by Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) under the support of UNICEF Bangladesh. A total of 25 representatives from 14 Community Radio initiators from different parts of the country, along with Patricia Portela de Souza, Communication for Development Specialist, UNICEF and Syeedul Hoque Milky, Program Communication Specialist, UNICEF have participated in the workshop. Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, BNNRC welcomed the participants.


The second “Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Community Radio Initiators” was taken place on 23 February 2011 at IDB Bhaban meeting room, Agargaon, Dhaka. The program was organized by Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) under the support of UNICEF Bangladesh. A total of 25 representatives from 14 Community Radio initiators from different parts of the country, along with Patricia Portela de Souza, Communication for Development Specialist, UNICEF and Syeedul Hoque Milky, Program Communication Specialist, UNICEF have participated in the workshop. Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, BNNRC welcomed the participants.

All 14 initiators updated the progress in installation and on-air of CRs. It has been informed that the initiators like BRAC, Srizoni Bangladesh, RDRS and Broadcasting Asia are going to launch their station by their own fund and local support whereas Nalta Community Hospital and ACLAB received partial support from Canadian CIDA, and MMC and CCD-Bangladesh received partial support from UNESCO, and Japan Embassy gives commitment of financial support to PROYAS Manobik Unnyan Sangstha. Besides, in the meantime most of the stations have constructed their building, completed primary set up for studio, appointed staff and have deposited government fees against their radio stations.
 
It is to be noted that all 14 stations have completed their primary preparation for airing. Now they are waiting for frequency allocation from BTRC so that they could import transmitter from abroad and set up antenna.

A reliable source confirmed that Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has started issuing demand note for frequency allocation to import transmitter. It can be mentioned that Center for Communication and Development (CCD-Bangladesh) has already received  demand note from BTRC.

In her speech, Ms. Patricia assured all the initiators to extend all possible cooperation from UNICEF.She has suggested invite representatives from different govt.agencies and other development partners in the following Knowledge sharing workshop.   

In the second session, the participants were divided into two groups to discuss and  review the drafts on i) the code and conduct of Community Radio and ii) Guideline for Child Community Radio Club. The moderator invited all the participants to give their inputs to make the draft documents more effective and to be finalized. After a group exercise the participants presented their findings to plenary. It was decided that these documents, after further improvement, will be circulated within a short time.

Participating initiators were RDRS Bangladesh, LDRO, NHRDA, PROYASH, CCD Bangladesh, Srizony Bangladesh, NHCHF, Broadcasting Asia, Bangladesh, MMC, ACLAB, EC Bangladesh, BRAC and Agriculture Information Service(AIS)

Finally, Mr. Kamaruzzaman, Project Coordinator, BNNRC gave vote of thanks to the participants. The program was ended at 3PM..

– Bazlu
_______________________
AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
[NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council]& Head, Community Radio Academy

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Patricia W. Elliott is a magazine journalist and assistant professor at the School of Journalism, University of Regina. You can visit her at patriciaelliott.ca.