World Radio Day 2016: Radio in times of emergency and disaster role of community radio in disaster risk reduction in Bangladesh
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has started an advocacy process on observing the world radio day in Bangladesh on 13 February in collaboration with public service Broadcasting, Commercial broadcasting, and Community Broadcasting.
As a result, the World Radio Day Observation National Committee was formed to observe the day nationally by Ministry of Information, People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Community Radio Padma is broadcasting various awareness programmes for people of the town of Rajshahi, by the bay of river Padma. The marginal populace is getting information on their lives and livelihood alongside health, education and society building, and on what they should do to tackle natural calamities.
In between their working hours, they are getting information on their phones that directly impact their lives. Sitting on the sides of their arable land they are getting solutions to agricultural problems, weather updates and advice on how to act during natural disasters. Overall, Radio Padma has created a position of reliability as the voice of marginalized people.
Under the Comprehensive Disaster Management Program, a program on reducing disaster risk and climate adaptation is airing on Radio Padma. The program, titled “Durjog Sochetonota” (“Disaster Awareness”), is airing the frequently-occurring disasters in Rajshahi – drought, thunder and floods.
Producer of the program, Sadi Mohammad said “A disaster is dicsucced on every episode’s beginning. The kind of disaster, its impact on livestock and trees, things to do before, during and after the disaster are spoken about on the program”.
The 15-20 minute magazine program, airing twice a week at 7:30pm, also broadcasts docudrama to draw attention of listeners. It has been broadcasting regularly on Radio Padma, since August 25.
Imran Ali, 22, is a resident of the town’s Talaimari, by the river, and is a listener of the show. Although he is a college student, he goes with father to fish in the river sometimes. Imran informed that the “Durjog Sochetonota” has been useful for him, as it has taught him to not go out on Padma under heavy clouds, and what to do during floods.
Asma, 27, lives in Bhodra Radio Colony and doesn’t have a radio. But she listens to the program on her mobile phone. Some other listeners also listen to the program with her. She said they have learned what to do at shelters, and information on what to do during thunders. Besides, small and marginal farmers can easily turn on the radio and learn methods of agriculture during drought.
Radio Padma’s station manager Shaheena Parvin said Radio Padma broadcasts mass-awareness programs. To produce the program, employees have received three-day training organized by Bangladesh NGOs network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), under the Comprehensive Disaster Management Program-2. They have learned about various disasters through it.
Ward Councilor of Ward-21 of Rajshahi town, Nizam Ul Azim said people’s basic right to information has been fulfilled through community radio. Especially marginalized people are availing information on different issues from their homes, through community radio.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) actively works to improve recognition of the community electronic media sector (Community Radio, Community TV, Community Film) & its work in and involvement with the communities it seeks to serve from 2000.