Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication - Bangladesh

BNNRC uses advocacy as a strategy to help build a democratic society based on the principles of free flow of information, as well as the equitable and affordable access to ICTs for remote and marginalised populations. BNNRC's central initiatives include:

• promoting community radio and television, radio listeners clubs (with an international focus) for young students, internet facilities, and renewable energy in coastal areas
• establishing links with others in the community and beyond
• organising training sessions
• building an amateur radio network (such that there will be at least one amateur radio operator in each of the Coastal districts)
• publishing a newsletter
• establishing a group of volunteers to enable rapid communication (and to request humanitarian assistance) during emergencies
• promoting and facilitating the establishment of radio communication facilities for public safety, especially in sea fishing and water transportation.

Specifically, advocacy work includes supporting members' submissions of applications for community and amateur radio programmes and setting up appointments with persons in a position to process these applications. In addition, BNNRC advocates for the government's extension of fixed line telephone services in remote coastal islands (before expanding already-existing service in cities). It also asks the government to take steps to compel companies to reduce mobile phone fees, or to launch its own mobile phone programme to garner low-cost access to remote areas, where commercial companies are often unwilling to go.

As BNNRC has developed over time, its focus has shifted toward action to contribute to several international processes, including Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs), the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) action plan, and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This work involves:

1. Building awareness of the correlations between ICT, poverty alleviation, and institutionalisation of democracy;
2. Establishment of an ICT resource centre and the promotion of radio listeners clubs as primary ICT catalysts in remote rural areas;
3. Creation of a campaign for bridging the digital divide/information divide through community radio;
4. Piloting ICT for development (ICT4D) projects in rural areas to create case studies for greater multiplication;
5. Establishment of Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) for disaster preparedness.

To ready themselves for the above-described advocacy work, BNNRC's members participated in two international workshops related to the promotion of community radio in India and Srilanka, and also visited community radio stations in Nepal. BNNRC also encouraged its member organisations to institute multi-media training centres in remote coastal areas.

For more information, visit:

• BNNRC website
• BNNRC Facebook page
• BNNRC on Twitter
• BNNRC's YouTube channel

Technology, Economic Development, Emergency, Rights, Youth.

Radio is the most popular media in this country, but it is dominated by the government. In the recent past, the government has allowed only private stations, one commercial company and the BBC in Dhaka city. Organisers point out that there is no favorable policy environment for establishing community radio.

Organisers claim that their efforts have motivated the chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to agree to speak directly with the information ministry to advocate that permission for community radio be provided. In addition, they say that UNESCO has agreed to fund a national consultation on community radio in Bangladesh. BNNRC is also in the process of planning a presentation for the Information Minister and Secretary.

The means to provide licenses to amateur radio operators by the government has not been in place since 2000. Forty licenses have been provided so far in Bangladesh (but only 3 or 4 stations have been established); in contrast, there are around 12,000 working amateur stations in India. BNNRC acquired four amateur radio licenses for its members; the launch of two of these stations helped publicise amateur radio as a means to foster access to international communication.

The effort to advocate for training centres is limited, as these centres are not profitable. Trainers are often reluctant to visit such remote areas, maintenance of equipment is costly, it is difficult to establish internet connections without accurate technical information, and citizens are too poor to pay training fees.