Progress report for
COVID-19 in SDGs: Adaptation Priority - Objectives & Broadcast Contents through Community Radio & Community Visual Radio in Bangladesh
Achievement at a glance
Bangladesh NGOs Network for radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been struggling for the last 20 years for opening up and strengthening the community media sector including Community Radio and giving focus on its vital role as voices of the voiceless rural people from 2000. www.bnnrc.net |BNNRC has been mobilizing all community radios for developing and broadcasting awareness building programs on COVID-19: contamination to protect lives and livelihoods since March 1, 2020 to 31 May 2020.
During March 1, 2020 to 31 May 2020 BNNRC has been working on COVID -19 covering the following issues:
1. Animate CSOs, Government, health service providers and communities for reinforcing collective action in pre and during COVID-19
2. Response for achieving keeping community people’s daily life normal and livelihood function,
3. Mobilize further cooperation among government, CSOs, local market and communities’ response
In times of crisis, information saves lives. In the response to Covid-19, we see how vital it is to get accurate and trusted messages to people so that they know what they need to do and where they can get help when they need it. Now 18 Community Radios stations in Bangladesh have been broadcasting 165 hours of Coronavirus prevention education with the active participation of community people. There are 1000 community youth and youth women community radio broadcasters broadcast programs for 6.5 million listeners and viewers.
Challenges faced in implementation
Community Radios have been broadcasting COVID-19 related life-saving information since March 2020 with their own resources but without emergency grant community radio stations are facing difficulties. Last couple of months the total situation has not been easy for community radio stations. Among the cancellation of advertisement, cut down of grant-funded projects and stopped other income sources increased the challenges significantly.Approximately 1000 community broadcasters in the country, only about 200 are currently able to function, what with social distancing norms, inadequate internet facility, less scope to access to social media and transport problems. The severe personnel crisis facing the stations is further compounded by restrictions on the movement of CR reporters, poor mobile signals, slow and expensive Internet connectivity through mobile data packages, and, interestingly, the reluctance of government officials to give interviews to Community Radio staff over the phone.
The major issue that the community radio sector is facing in Bangladesh is its precarious financial condition. With the stations mostly fending for themselves over the past few months, some donor agencies are slowly stepping in, although funds from these sources are yet to overcoming national and international bureaucratic hurdles.
Beneficiaries
It is really working and having a very positive effect in the rural communities. Now the community people are taking precautionary measures for adaptation and coping with new normal situation of COVID–19 pandemic. People now understand more about adaptation with the COVID–19 pandemic and maintain health protocols strictly such as using of masks, washing hands, maintain social distance and avoiding public gatherings.
Community radio programming is an important tool in flattening the curve, tamping down panic in line with misinformation, disinformation, and extending advice and comfort to the people most affected —wherever they live.