Unesco Dhaka Office and Bangladesh Community Radio Association (BCRA) jointly organized “The Regional Policy Dialogue to Strengthen Community Radio Media in Bangladesh” at The Daily Star Bhaban in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The discussion was held with the aim to strengthen the community radio media in Bangladesh, raise awareness about community radio, and directly engage policymakers in the strategic dialogue on taking action to create a supportive environment, especially for small and medium-sized community radio.
For over a decade in Bangladesh, community radio has been operating the service and playing an important role in rural development. As of 2022, 19 community radio stations are broadcasting in Bangladesh and empowering rural people to identify problems and participate in the decision-making process for positive changes. Though, as an alternative medium to public and commercial media, there remain some challenges, which hinder the vision of community radio to be achieved and reflecting the SDGs as well.
The meeting discussed on the challenges to the sustainability of community radio and the way forwards. Senior representatives from 19 community radio stations participated in the discussion, while guests from relevant stakeholders shared their remarks.
Susan Vize, officer-in-charge, Unesco Dhaka office, joined the session virtually and delivered her speech as opening remarks. Noore Jannat Proma, project officer-Communication and Information, Unesco Dhaka Office, shared her welcome note.
Muhammad Delowar Hossain, deputy secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Nasrullah Md Irfan, additional director general, Bangladesh Betar, Faruq Faisel, regional director, Bangladesh and South Asia, ARTICLE 19, Faroha Suhrawardy, former regional director, Bangladesh Betar Rajshahi, and CR policy advocate, Amin Al Rasheed, current affairs editor, Nexus TV, Sheikh Adnan Fahad, assistant professor, Journalism, and Media Studies Department, Jahangirnagar University joined the discussion and shared their experience and comment on raising awareness and ensuring the sustainability of the CR sector.
The regional dialogue was moderated by Syed Tarikul Islam, general sectary, BCRA.
Unesco in Bangladesh advocates for community media and promotes radio as an important component of media pluralism. Bringing together and networking all relevant community media stakeholders, including community radio stations, local authorities, national and international NGOs, UN, and academia, and through capacity-building and training activities. Unesco supports the long-term viability of community media in Bangladesh. BCRA is a coordinating platform of community radio in Bangladesh working to strengthen the sector through networking and policy advocacy.
