Research

Protiva Banerjee
Md. Kamaruzzaman
Edited by
Syed Kamrul Hassan
AHM Bazlur Rahman
Date of publication
August 2016

to build and
strengthen rural
communities in line
with their hopes and
dreams & initiated a
process to explore the future
of development cooperation
and the role of electronic
community media over the
next 15 years in line with
Sustainable Development
Goal (SDG)

Design & Printing

redline
Published by
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio
and Communication (BNNRC)
House: 9/4, Road: 2, Shyamoli, Dhaka 1207
Tel: +88 02 9130750, 9138501
Fax: +88 02 9138501-105
Email: ceo@bnnrc.net
Web: www.bnnrc.net
Through the Generous Support from

PREFACE
We are pleased to present Why Community Radio Matters in
Bangladesh according to the present status where we stand
today & where we are going. We have tried to look at
community radio development in Bangladesh through the
lens of four areas Effectiveness, Sustainability, Innovation
and Peoples participation.
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 & involvement
with the communities it seeks to serve from 2000.

Total Population of Broadcasting area: 2,38,76,000

(23.876 million)

TOTAL POPULATION OF BROADCASTING AREA

2,38,76,000

We are observing that our radio stations are now producing

quality content by ensuring the participation of rural
community and the people from different walks of life. The
programs on disaster preparedness help millions of coastal
people to save their assets and lives.

We invite you to join in our STRUGGLE! We hope you are or

will become one of our future supporters for promoting
electronic community media in rural Bangladesh.
Finally my deep gratitude goes to all Community Radio
initiators, Community Broadcasters, Listeners, Ministry of
Information, Development Partners and all stakeholders who
are struggling with us for strengthening Community Media
in Bangladesh.

6.18
MILLION

TOTAL LISTENERS

The quality programs and the contents produced by rural

youth and youth women broadcasters have already earned
recognition by many institutions at home and abroad.
Among others we can mention the UN World Summit on the
Information Society (UN WSIS) Award 2016, Asia Pacific
Broadcasting Union (ABU) Award, UNFPA, UNICEF Meena,
PLAN International Bangladesh/BNNRC Girl Power, National
Population Award and so on.

25.88%

2016

Total Listeners: 61 lac 80 thousand Around 6.180

million (25.88%)

TOTAL LISTENERS

We look forward to working with you to achieve our vision.

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR

Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)

HOW MANY LISTENERS ?

O1.

8.58 H

LISTE
N
RADI TO COMM
O EA
CH W UNITY
EEK

OURs

Average 8.58 hours in a Week

WHY DO THEY LISTEN ?

Listener are benefitted from broadcasted program

Listeners are feeling the contents are their own issues

All broadcaster locally recruited

Sense of Ownership

Programs on Indigenous peoples life, culture and tradition

through their involvement.

Information on employment opportunities/job market

Information on Local Communication and Market price

Local Culture, songs,drama and Entertainment through

active engagement of local performers

Own voice: Accessibility and participation -scope of opinion

sharing

Programs in own language/dialect

Profession-wise content and information

Information on life and livelihood issues

Local News and weather forecast

Content on local issue.

O2.
HOW LONG ARE PEOPLE
TUNING IN (PER WEEK)

O3.

09
11
03
06
09

am-11 am : 4th prime time

am-03 pm : 5th prime time
pm-06 pm : 2nd prime time
pm-10 pm : Prime time
pm-01 am : 3rd prime time

3rd prime time

5th
pri
me
ti

e
m

e time
rim
p
t
os
m

4th p
rim
et
i

e
m

2nd
pr
i

To
p

News & Information

Public Service Announcement
Agriculture Based Contents
Primary Health Care
Reproductive Health
Education Based Program
Life & Livelihood Contents
Women & Child Issues
Entertainment based program
Radio Drama/Daily Soap
Programs on Income Generation & Opportunities
Trafficking/Early Marriage
Phone in Program
Youth Based Program (i.e. Job Information,
Education, Entertainment)
Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change &
Weather Forecast
Nutrition Based program
Indigenous Community Based Program
History & Heritage
Family Planning Issues
English Language Program

Morning
Noon
Afternoon
Evening
Night

ime
et
m

O4.

WHAT DO THEY LIKE ?

WHEN DO THEY LISTEN ?

O5.

O6.

WHO IS LISTENING ?
Youth & Youth Women
Labor
Adolescent
Women
Student
Farmer
Child
Persons with Disableily
Fisherman
Rickshaw & Van Puller
Tea Shopper
Small Shop Keeper
Teachers Community
Local Administration

WHERE ARE THEY

LISTENING FROM ?

O7.

Local Small Shop/Tea Stall

Residence During Travel Work Place Listeners Club

210
Per year

TRAINING RECEIVED ON
COMMUNITY BROADCASTING

O8.

O9.

HOW MANY VOLUNTEERS ENGAGE:

YOUTH AND YOUTH WOMEN ?

HOW MANY HOURS

BROADCAST ?

945
Hours
broadcasting per week
135
Hours
broadcasting Daily
Engaged 4000
people in programs daily

10.

HOW MANY HOURS BROADCAST

PER WEEK FOR DALITS/
MARGINALIZES PEOPLES ?

14.15

YOUTH AND YOUTH WOMEN

11.

53.78%
46.22%

MOST FAVORED RADIO

PROGRAM FORMAT

12.

Magazine, Phone In, Radio Drama

News, Local Song, Discussions
Features, Interview, Dialogue

489
HOW MANY PROGRAM
BROADCAST PER WEEK ?

13.

RADIO SARABELA

U P C O M I N G C O M M U N I T Y S TAT I O N S