Japan Supports Community Radio in Munshiganj
Dhaka: 06 October 2013
Press Release
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On 29th March, the grant contract was signed between H.E. Mr. Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh and Mr. Md. Abdur Rahman Tarafder, Executive Officer, Khagrachari Hill District Council for irrigation projects in Khagrachari amounting to US$ 122,961 (approximately Taka 1 Crore).Radio Bikrampur, a Community Radio Station, has been established in Munshiganj Sadar with the assistance of the Government of Japan. The Embassy of Japan donated a grant of 63,204.78 USD under “Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects” (GGHSP) to Environment Council Bangladesh (ECBD) to improve the accessibility of information for the local community.
The inaugural ceremony took place on 5th October 2013 at the Circuit House Auditorium of Munshiganj. Mr. Masayuki Taga, Counsellor of the Embassy of Japan to Bangladesh, inaugurated the radio station as the Chief Guest and Md. Saiful Hasan Badol, District Commissioner of Munshiganj, chaired the occasion.
Mr. Taga said, “Through sharing accurate information, community radio can serve as an effective empowerment tool for the people, contributing to the betterment of their lives and to socio-economic development”. He also added that community radio can be used effectively in disaster management at the times of cyclones and floods, helping to reduce damages of lives and assets.
Chairperson of the ceremony, D.C. of Munshigonj, said “I had the occasion to listen to some of the programs being broadcasted”. He commented that the program on health issues was particularly enjoyable and believes it to be very beneficial in bettering the lives of the listeners.
Radio Bikrampur FM 99.2 is broadcasting 69 hours of programs in a week covering a variety of issues such as health and nutrition, agriculture, education, climate change and adaptation, weather, local development news, events, and public service announcements; to name just a few. It is designed to cover a population of 1,293,000 people and is estimated that 452,000 people in the locality are regular listeners.
The Community Radio is becoming an active ground for dialogues in rural Bangladesh. These dialogues are helping the rural mass to realize their own voices and to ensure free speech with respect to social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental issues. It is reported that including GGSHP-supported ones, 14 Community Radios are currently being aired in Bangladesh
The Government of Japan commenced the operation of GGHSP in Bangladesh in 1989 with the primary objective of supporting development projects that enhance human security at the grass-roots level. To this date, a total of 177 projects have been funded through this scheme, amounting to US$13,549,732 in grant.
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