Recently government has approved CCD’s application for install and broadcast community Radio Station in Rajshahi Region of Bangladesh. Besides, government has also approved another 13 community radio initiators’ applications.
On 23 April, initially Ministry of Information 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.
Last several years CCD has been working for installation and operation of community radio in Rajshahi region of Bangladesh. In this regard, CCD has been successfully arranging long-term radio journalism training program in association with UNESCO, PANOS South Asia and the British Council. CCD has already developed young radio broadcasters for effective operate and broadcast proposed community radio station. Besides, with the assistance of IPDC program of UNESCO, CCD has been implementing two projects at now for developing a numbers of young radio broadcasters for upcoming community radio stations in Bangladesh.