Biography of AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR has spent 30+years of his career playing as a leading role as the social
catalyst for promoting community media, communicating on the public sphere, communicating
knowledge, civil rights in communication & cultural rights in communication, ICT for development,
knowledge society, internet governance, amateur radio, right to information and policy advocacy.
media development, theological communication, knowledge management for development (KM4D)
and business for development.

He has unique quality of experience and contribution in an inclusive manner in multi-stakeholders of

politics, development partners, private sector, NGO & civil society, public sector, policy makers,
academia and media. He is known as transformational expert, visionary, and change agent.

He founded Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) since 2000.
BNNRC is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
accredited with World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) of the United Nations and UN
WSIS prize winner 2016 and Champion 2017.

BNNRC’s approach to media development is both knowledge-driven and context-sensitive, and it

takes into account the challenges and opportunities created by the rapidly changing media environment
in Bangladesh including community radio development giving voices for the voiceless.

He has been successfully developed BNNRC as well reputed media development organization
acceptable to government level as well as to all stakeholders. He has played an instrumental role for
changing policy and regulations which facilitate the media development and the Government from
national to international level.

He was the strategic council member of United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development
(UNGAID) from Asia and Pacific Region. Bangladesh Working Group on UN World Summit on the
Information Society (UN WSIS), Member of the drafting committee of National Broadcasting act,
Member of the drafting committee of Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy
of Ministry of Information, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

He has been working as the member of the Community Radio Monitoring Committee of Ministry of
Information, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, one of the founders’ of Bangladesh
UN Internet Governance Forum, World Radio Day International Committee, member of the Multi-
Stakeholder Steering Group (MSG) of UN Asia Pacific Regional Internet Governance Forum
(APrIGF) and research fellow of Bangladesh Center for Fourth Industrial Revolution.

He has worked for Bangladesh Development Society (BDS), Action Aid – Bangladesh, The Coastal
Association for Social Transformation (COAST) and Bhola District Correspondent of United News of
Bangladesh (UNB) and The Daily Star.

He also contributed in many National and International conference as the Speaker, Moderator, Trainer
and Panel Discussant. He has been contributing several articles on Community Radio and co-author of
Handbook on Community Radio for Good Governance and Development, Handbook on Airwaves
Advocacy in Bangladesh and Policy Advocacy Plan for Community Radio in Bangladesh.

He has contributed in achieving 6th and 7th five Years Plan, UN World Summit on the Information
Society (UN WSIS) Action Plan and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through Right to
Information for ensuring improved livelihood of the marginalized, ICT for Development for Bridging
the Digital Divide in rural areas & Community Radio/Community Broadcasting for amplifying voices
for the voiceless and Amateur Radio for Disaster Risk Reduction.

He has participated and contributed in UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forums,
UN Commission for Science and Technology for Development (UN CSTD) of UNCTAD and Internet
Governance Forums process and various meeting and workshop on national and international levels
during 2000. His outreach extends to local, national and international forums for communicating
Knowledge for Development (KM4D).

He has graduated from University of Dhaka and Post graduated from Asian University in the field of
Social Science in Government & Politics. He has also completed 3 months short course on
Development Management from India. Apart from these he also completed several issues based
development training and workshop program from home and abroad. He is the fellow of Legislative
Development of the US State Department.

He has been actively engaged with the Global Forum for Media Development(GFMD), World
Association of Christian Communication(WACC), The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4A1), Asia-
Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD), Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU),
World Association for Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), Community Media Forum- Europe,
Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education, Freedom of Information Advocates
Network, Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS), E-Commerce Association of
Bangladesh (e-CAB) and UN Global Compact as representative of BNNRC.

He has traveled different countries across Asia, Europe, North America & South America and Africa.

He has been engaged as a resource person in the National Institute of Mass Communication (NIMC)
and Press Institute of Bangladesh under the Ministry of Information, Government of the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh on UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), Media Development,
Delta Plan 2100, media interventions for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction (DRR),
as well on ICT for inclusive broadcasting and Community Media.

He is the Life Member of The Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) and
Bangladesh Public Relations Association (BPRA). He is married and is blessed with one son and one
daughter.

He can be reached at bnnrcbd@gmail.com | www.bnnrc.net | +8801711881647