Editing Community radio (section)

===Bangladesh=== <!-- Needs cleanup (I don't know what the acronyms stand for)-->
[[File:Wikipedia Workshop for Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communications staffs 05.jpg|thumb|Workshop for Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communications staffs]]
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been struggling for the last 12 years to open up the community media (including Community Radio, [[Community television|Community Television]] and Community film) and giving focus on its vital role as voices of the voiceless people. BNNRC has been addressing the community radio & community TV access issue for over a decade, almost since its emergence in the year 2000.

BNNRC is in special consultative status with the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]]. BNNRC has been promoting advocacy to the government in relation to community radio with other organizations since its emergence in 2000.<ref>[https://www.scribd.com/doc/47360513/Bangladesh-NGOs-Network-for-Radio-and-Communication-in-UN-ECOSOC] List of UN-ECOSOC organizations, p. 16.</ref>

The objective of BNNRC's Community Radio intervention is to address social issues (such as poverty and social exclusion) at the community level, empower marginalized rural groups and catalyze democratic processes and ongoing development efforts.

At the moment, positive and supportive condition is prevailing in our country. Because; [[Bangladesh Government]] has already acknowledged the importance of community radio and announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy. Bangladesh is the 2nd country in [[South Asia]] in formulating policy for Community Radio. Now 14 community radio stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 536 youth women and youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters.

The prime role of community radio is giving a voice to people who do not have access to mainstream media to express their views on community development. Promoting the right to communicate, expediting the process of informing the community, assisting the free flow of information and acting as a catalyst of change are major tasks achievable by community radio. It also upholds creative growth and democratic spirit at the community level.

As a result, the [[Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Information]] of the People's Republic of Bangladesh announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008. Under this policy, the Ministry of Information approved 14 community radio stations for the first time in Bangladeshi history. To ensure the free flow of information to the people, the government enacted the Right to Information Act 2009. Community radio stations are a strong step in empowering rural people.

The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.

BNNRC established the Community Media News Agency (CMNA), Community Media Academy (CMA) and Monthly Community Media to share development news and building capacity for the Community Media sector in Bangladesh. BNNRC now started advocacy with the Government of Bangladesh to open up community television for development.

Ministry of Information approved 17 community Radio<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bnnrc.net/home/bnnrcsarabela |title=Welcome 17th Community Radio Station in Bangladesh -Community Radio Sarabela 98.8 |access-date=2016-11-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115072543/http://www.bnnrc.net/home/bnnrcsarabela |archive-date=2016-11-15 }}</ref> in Bangladesh:
* [[Community Radio Sagor Giri 99.2]] Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) for [[Sitakunda Upazila|Sitakunda]], [[Chittagong District|Chittagong]]
* Community Radio Nalta 99.2 [Nalta Community Hospital ([[Satkhira District|Satkhira]])]
* Community Radio Mukti 99.2 [LDRO ([[Bogra District|Bogra]])]
* Community Radio Pollikontho 99.2 [BRAC (Moulivi Bazer)]
* Barandro Community Radio 99.2 ([[Naogaon]])
* Community Radio Mahananda 98.8 [Proyas (Chapai Nababgonj)]
* Community Radio Padma 99.2 [CCD (Rajshahi)]
* Community Radio Jhinuk 99.2 [Srizoni (Jhinaidhah)]
* Community Radio Bikrampur 99.2 [Ambala Foundation] ([[Munshiganj District|Munshiganj]])
* Community Radio Lokobetar 99.2 [MMC ([[Barguna Sadar Upazila]])]
* Community Radio Chilmari 99.2 [ Chilmari, [http://www.rdrsbangla.net/ RDRS] ([[Kurigram District|Kurigram]])]
* Community Radio Sundarban 98.8 Koyra Upazila (Khulna)
* Community Radio Naf 99.2 Teknaf [ACLAB ([[Cox's Bazar District]])
* Community Rural Radio 98.8 [Agriculture Information Services (AIS) Community Rural Radio ([[Barguna District]])]
* Community Radio Meghna 90.0, Charfassion, Bhola [COAST Trust ([[Bhola District]])
* Community Radio SagarDwip 99.2,  Hatyia Island,  [Dwip Unnayan Shongstha-DUS ([[Noakhali District]])
* Community Radio Sarabela 98.8, ([SKS Foundation [[Gaibandha District]])
* Community Radio Boral 99.2 ([[Bagha Upazila|Bagha]], [[Rajshahi District]])

Earlier, in the 1st batch on 22 April 2010, Ministry of Information has approved 14 community radio stations, the number stands on 16 by adding more 2 stations in the line soon.  14 community radio stations ushered a new era by rural broadcasting 106 hours programs daily within a listeners' community of 4.6 million of 13 upazila of the country. These programs reflect the rights and scopes of the disadvantaged community people. This neo-media has produced a neo-generation of community radio broadcasters at rural level where a total of 536 youth and youth women are contributing creativity their time, effort and thus taking part in nation-building process. The initiating organizations received approval for primary set up of community radio stations in the 2nd phase are:

* Progati Research on Grassroots Ownership and Traditional Initiative for Shaymnagar Upazila, [[Satkhira District]]
* Aparajeyo Bangladesh for Pirganj Upazila, [[Rangpur District]]
* Bangla-German Sampreeti (BGS) for Tangail District, [[Tangail District]]
* SKS Foundation for Sader of Gaibandha District, [[Gaibandha District]]
* Voluntary Association for Rural Development (VARD) for Sunamganj District, [[Sunamganj District]]
* Somaj-O-Jati Gathan(SOJAG) for Dhamrai Upazila of Dhaka District, [[Dhaka District]]
* Shechashebi Bahumukhi Mahila Samajkallyan (SBSSS) for Boalia Upazila of  Rajshahi District, [[Rajshahi District]]
* Jyoti Development Foundation for Sadar Upazila of Kushtia District, [[Kushtia District]]
* Institute of Development Affairs (IDEA) for South Surma, Sylhet District, [[Sylhet District]]
* Nazrul Smriti Sangsad (NSS) for Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali District, [[Patuakhali District]]
* Karmojibi Nari for Bheramara Upazila of Kushtia District, [[Kushtia District]]
* Bandhan Society for Halimpur, Bajithpu Upazila,  Kishoreganj District, [[Kishoreganj District]]
* Patuakhali Development Organization (PDO) for Bauphal  Upazila of Patuakhali, [[Patuakhali]]
* Coastal Association for Social Transformation for Sadar Upazila of Cox's Bazer, [[Cox Bazer]]
* Program for Eco-Social Development (PESD) for Sherpur Upazila, of  Bogra District, [[Bogra District]]
* Borendra Unnayan Prochasta for Sapura Upazila of  Rajshahi

Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication represents the community media sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media and Development Partners in Bangladesh. The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.

BNNRC has been struggling for the last 12 years to open up the community media (including Community Radio, Community Television and Community film) and giving focus on its vital role as voices of the voiceless people and has already established the Community Media News Agency (CMNA), Community Media Academy (CMA) and Monthly Community Media to share development news and building capacity for the Community Media sector in Bangladesh.

Community radio is considered an alternative, effective mass media for the rural disadvantaged population to express their thoughts in their own voice and their own style.
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