Bangladesh 8 October, 2011: Yesterday at 6-30 p.m.of Bangladesh time honorable Minister for Information and Culture Mr.Abul Kalam Azad inaugurated the launching of Radio Padma as the 1st Community Radio Station on-air in the country. In a colourful inaugural ceremony organized on 7th October at Dr.Kaisar Chowdhury Memorial Auditorium of Rajshahi Medical College, the honorable minister as Chief Guest of the program handed over the license of Radio Station to the coordinator of Radio Padma-Mr. G.M.Martuza.
The launching ceremony was organized by CCD (the initiator of Radio Padma) in assistance of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC).
Mr. AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation along with 05 other Member of Parliaments in the region attended as special guests of the program. The program was also graced by the participation of UNICEF and BNNRC Representatives, social workers, civil society members, media experts and the founding workers of Radio Padma.
In his speech as chief guest of the program Mr.Abul Kalam Azad told –“ CR will play very significant role in fulfilling the vision of Digital Bangladesh and to make the country a mid-level income generating country by the year 2021-as it was pledged by Sheikh Hasina.Community Radio will take active part in building a transparent, accountable, democratic and corruption-free Bangladesh by providing information to the rural and disadvantaged community, regarding their basic needs and available public services on agriculture, education, Mother & child health, employability etc. Community Radio will help in reducing increasing divide between city and village regarding access to information and knowledge, it will ensure availability of information and participation of community in program planning and production.
Community Radio is not to serve the commercial purpose. As we have seen examples of Latin America, Africa and in different countries of Asia, Community Radio will contribute in development of our disadvantaged community. Our govt.has accomplished its 02 very important commitments-
approval of RTI Law and support in Community Radio initiatives.Govt.has formed Information Commission which has started work. From today community radio has been started. This will contribute in free flow of information and to create a rational and knowledge-based future society.
Very soon the rest (13) CR initiators will also come on-air.
We expect community radio will tell our stories of liberation struggle-accurate and transparent history will help our young generation to aware of our glories and thus protect them from being fundamental. This media will highlight the local context and problem, recommend and suggest solution. There can be constructive criticism as well.”
He thanked the initiator of Radio Padma, fellow colleagues and other stakeholders for their labour and efforts they have dedicated since long, for opening a new chapter in media history of the country.
Mr. AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Mayor, City Corporation, Rajshahi mentioned this event as a memorable one in the lives of the citizens. He referred his all out cooperation in different times during its formative stage. He hoped that Community Radio would play important role in local government.
He expected Radio Padma to become such a media-which should be transparent, neutral and corruption free.
Among others, Mr. Saheen Maowara Haque(Naogaon) Prof. Zinnatunnesa Talukdar (Rajshahi) –MPs, Women category, Mr. Fazle Hossain Badsha, MP(Rajshahi-2), Mr. Abdul Wadud Dara, MP(Rajshahi-5), Engineer Enamul Haque(Rajshahi-4) , Shaheen Akhtar Remy, reputed social worker, Mr. Nurul
Islam Thandu, Chairman, Barendra Bahumukhi Unaayan Parishad, Mr. Mahfuz Mishu, Senior Reporter, ATN Bangla spoke in brief and welcomed Radio Padma. They assured of their future cooperation and guidance in progress and growth of this new Radio Channel.
In welcoming speech Mr. Martuza, Chief Coordinator of Radio Padma mentioned that everyone is the part of the history of today. He gave special thanks to Department of mass communication and journalism of Rajshahi University in helping him to materialize the dream into reality.
He remembered the cooperation of the teachers (both late and existing) of the department, the initial/founder workers of Radio Padma and expressed his gratefulness to their contribution throughout the long way.
As part of the program, the founding initiators and the existing volunteers of Radio Padma (representing ethnic community) were awarded crest and certificate for their efforts throughout the process. The founding initiators are termed as “Good will Ambassador” of Radio Padma.
Professor Mashiur Rahman, Chairperson of Inaugural Ceremony and Chairman of CCD thanked the participants and announced the closure of the inaugural ceremony.
The inaugural session was followed by a majestic cultural program, which was anchored by popular singers of the region. It can be mentioned that the whole event was directly broadcasted from Radio Padma studio for the outreach listeners.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is promoting the advocacy with the government in relations to community radio with other organizations since its emergence in 2000 to open-up the Community Radio in Bangladesh to address critical social issues at community level, such as poverty, social exclusion, empowerment of marginalized rural groups and catalyze democratic process in decision making and ongoing development efforts.
As a result, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh acknowledged the importance of community radio and announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast & Operation Policy. Bangladesh is the 2nd country in South Asia in formulating policy for Community Radio.
Subsequently, Bangladesh Government approved 14 initiators for installation, operation and broadcast of community radio stations in different parts of the country. This is the first time in Bangladesh history, when media diversification allowed community people to be involved in community broadcasting.
The JAPAN PRIZE was established in 1965 by NHK as International Educational Program Contest with the aims of improving the quality of educational programs around the world and contributing to the development and fostering of international understanding and cooperation.
