CCD is the one of organisation who has get government approval for establishing, operating and broadcasting community radio (CR). Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has already allocated frequency (FM 99.2) to CCD for broadcasting its Community Radio. CCD has intended to start broadcast of its community radio (CR) from June 2011. The community radio to be established by CCD has been named as Radio Padma. In order to operate and continue the broadcasting of Radio Padma successfully, CCD has already started building up skilled manpower. In association with the UNESCO, 25 young volunteers (including 25 youth indigenous people) have been trained up who will be closely involved in operation and broadcasting of Radio Padma. The trained-up volunteers are producing different issue-based programs which are being broadcast through Rajshahi radio station and online Radio Invo. Four CCD activists have already received training on community radio operation held in India.
CCD is going to organize more training courses in association with the UNESCO for developing a group of women radio broadcasters who will also work with Radio Padma. In order to encourage community people for active participation in operating and broadcasting Radio Padma, CCD is now implementing a community mobilization project in association with UNESCO.
With the view to operating and broadcasting of Radio Padma, CCD has already appointed Station Manager and Operation Manager. Moreover, 9-member Managing Committee has been formed with Chairperson of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Rajshahi University Professor Moshihur Rahman as President and CCD Director G M Mourtoza as General Secretary. Besides that, Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Rajshahi University (presently working as Director General of PIB on Lien) Dulal Chandra Biswas and Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation A H M Khairuzzaman Liton have been nominated respectively as Chief Advisor and Chief Patron.
CCD is mainly a mass communication oriented knowledge centre. Its all activities depend on donor agencies and partner organizations. That is why, CCD is looking for some donor agencies which can support for the purchase of necessary equipments including transmitter and antenna for setting up community radio station. If CCD gets necessary financial support, it can start the broadcasting of Radio Padma in coming June 2011. Mainly due to the financial shortage, it is getting delayed to start community radio broadcasting of CCD. Presently it is the first and foremost challenge in front of CCD in starting set-up and broadcasting of the community radio.