Bangladesh Community Radio/Report on Training Workshop on Community Radio Program Production

= Training Workshop on Community Radio Program Production = Date: 19 to 22 January 2009 Venue: Hotel Western Inn, Khulna Organized by: RUPANTAR.

Supported by: Commonwealth Educational Media Center for Asia (CEMCA)

Introduction
A training workshop was organized by Rupantar with support from CEMCA. The workshop was held from 19-22 January 2009 at Hotel Western Inn, Khulna. The workshop aimed at developing Community Radio Production for effective communication as part of Open Distance Learning.

The workshop was conducted with the facilitation of the following resource persons:

The following persons attended the training workshop as participants:
 * 1) Rukmini Vemraju, Delhi
 * 2) Abhishek Das,  Kolkata
 * 3) AHM Bazlur Rahman,  Dhaka
 * 4) Md. Abu Nawsher,  Dhaka
 * 5) Saifuddin Sabuj,  Dhaka
 * 6) Sohel Awrangzeb,  Dhaka
 * 7) Suman Roy,  Dhaka
 * 8) Sumon Gomes,  Dhaka
 * 9) Asraf Abir,  Dhaka

The program was coordinated by the following persons of Rupantar:
 * 1) Md. Abdus Sobur,  Nalta Hospital, Satkhira
 * 2) Syed Hafizur Rahman,  BARSA, Satkhira
 * 3) Ashafa Salim,  RDRS, Rangpur
 * 4) Tahsin  Islam, NHRDS, Naogaon
 * 5) Shahida Sikder,  DORP, Satkhira
 * 6) A.K.M Khairul Alam, SOUL, Dhaka
 * 7) Md. Rajwanul Haque,  Proyas, Chapai-Nawabganj
 * 8) Pallabi  Dey,  CCDB, Rajshahi
 * 9) Banani Das Gupta,  Rupantar, Bagerhat
 * 10) Kazi Nazmul Hasan,  Shabolombi, Norail
 * 11) Md. Ashraful Alam,  SETU, Kushtia
 * 12) Nasiur Rahaman Shipu,  COAST, Barisal
 * 13) Moiunul  Huda,  STEPS, Mathebaria
 * 14) Md Abul Hossain,  Rupantar
 * 15) Shirajum Salakin,  Rupantar
 * 16) Shariful Bashar,  Rupantar
 * 17) Bikash Kundu,  Rupantar

Rupantar has been involved for quite sometimes in “Open Distance Learning” Program initiated by Commonwealth of Learning (COL). It is proposed to develop Community Radio Program under this ODL Program at various parts of Bangladesh and Rupantar will work as Lead Organization. The training workshop was inaugurated by Swapan Guha, Chief Executive of Rupantar welcoming all participants and resource persons and narrated the impact of community radio programming, especially highlighting the local issues. He emphasized that using the latest technology will not suffice but the program will call for effective use of such technologies with skill and merit and all need to be foresighted. He thanked CEMCA for assisting us in implementing community radio program in Bangladesh. He also requested the government and the local administration for necessary assistance towards establishing community radio in this country.
 * Mr. Swapan Guha, Chief Executive, Rupantar
 * Mr. Rafiqul Islam Khokan, Director, Rupantar
 * Mr. Kartick Roy, Program Officer, Rupantar

Dr. Rukmini Vimraju, Program Officer of CEMCA expressed her thanks to Rupantar for organizing the training workshop especially on behalf of the Director of CEMCA Dr. Sreedhar. She narrated the goal and objectives of CEMCA and the initiative of COL as steps for ODL. She expressed her firm determination that with the use of community radio Bangladesh will be benefited by disseminating information to all people at all communities and will lead to national development. She promised that the support from CEMCA on Community Radio Program in Bangladesh will be continuous. She also expressed her views that through this workshop a Master Trainers Team will be developed who will be engaged in offering training for the others in country and abroad.

CEO of BNNRC, Mr. Bazlur Rahman gave a presentation on the community radio program in Bangladesh. He narrated that upon request for application on Community Radio on 12th March 2008, a total of 400 applications were received by the then Caretaker Government. 180 scrutinized application are being sent to the ministry of information, out of which 116 are being selected primarily for permission. He also expressed that 12th of March should be observed as Community Radio Day.

Mr. Rafiqul Islam Khokan, Director of Rupantar discussed on the Community Radio program of Rupantar expressing his views that this will build a media of communication for expanding updated information for the community on various social issues like democracy and governance. He also narrated some strategic issues for developing community radio and setting up community radio stations in this country.

Working Sessions of Training workshop
The workshop was of continuous sessions for three days aiming at the main objectives of the program. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Saifuddin Sabuj. The sessions were divided in different sessions as follows:

a)	Community Radio in South Asia: The session was conducted by Mr. Bazlur Rahman of BNNRC who explained the different types of radio programs with showing difference between traditional radio and community radio. He emphasized that community radio is directed for the community by participation of community people. Community Radio is normally established to cover a distance of 17-19 kilometers.

b)	Characteristics of Community radio: This session was facilitated by Mr. Swapan Guha, Chief executive of Rupantar who detailed the role of peoples participation in Community Radio Programming. He, however, narrated that the community radio should have some characteristics like – Educative, local, easy to carry, with tolerance limit and flexibility. He also expressed that each community radio program should have five objectives like- Observation, analysis, creative, exercise and presentation.

c)	Questionnaire session: There was a questionnaire session related to community radio programming and some participants were satisfied by the facilitators with their questions.

d)	Radio programming schedule session: The participants were divided in three groups and assigned the job of developing a program schedule for one day. The schedules developed by the groups were analysed and edited and the main editor being Mr. Abhishek Das, Program Coordinator of Jadavpur University Community Radio Station. The Ex-Deputy Director of Bangladesh Betar, Mr. Abu Nowsher, narrated elaborately about the individual responsibility of Producer and Announcer of the Community Radio and National Radio Program. Mr. Nowsher informed all the participants during the workshop that there exists no freedom for the announcer and the producer always enjoys freedom. The Radio Program is divided into four categories 1) Information, 2) Education, 3) Entertainment and 4) Motivation. He also expressed that we have to change the characteristics and daily life through Community Radio broadcasting which are as follows:
 * The audience should visualize the scenario as announce by the announcer
 * The announcer should always use easy language avoiding meaningless words to make the audience understand clearly. The announcer should always respect the audience and not to try to avoid audience.
 * The announcer should have every high level of quality.

Community Radio Production Technique:
Mr. Abu Nowsher narrated the techniques for good Community Radio Programming. He expressed that the producer should think about good production keeping in mind that the listeners are our clients and so emphasize should be given at the time of the broadcasting program on the issues for the entertainment and information of the clients. The Producer should have the following characteristics: 1. He should be dramatic, 2) Be Smiling, 3) Keep Control on Flow of sound, 4) Do not be crazy, be willingness, 5) The broadcasting should be hymn and passionate for the clients, 6) Think about program, 7) Plan to fulfill the requirements of the clients, 8) Do not use unnecessary language, 9) Try to use chronological words, 10) Good practice, 11) Try to speak clear and correct words. Equipment for Community Radio

Mr. Aurangzeb told about the use of equipment in Community Radio and the announcer should have in depth knowledge on all aspects of the community/society. The audio recorder is first necessity followed by analogue recorder and digital recorder. He also discussed in detail about the various equipments and processes of recording.

In this respect Mr. Ashraf Abir of D-net Dhaka expressed his experience in visiting Indian Community Radio Station. He explained that three factors are important to run a radio station viz. Technical, content and management.

Recording
Mr. Abhishek Das, Program Coordinator of Community Radio, Jadavpur University, Kolkota explained the rules for Community Radio recording. He discussed various aspects of recording system and equipment. Mr. Suman Roy, Creative Producer of Radio Dhaka, explained automation and editing software for Community Radio. He discussed various aspect of software and technical content. Group work and Group presentation

On the third day, the working session started with the presentation and discussion on the groups works that were completed by three groups formed on the previous day. Each of the groups had been exposed to different categories of people. The findings of the group works related to pre-production and script development, post production and editing and hearing and transmission as well as broadcasting were reviewed and corrected by all participants. The three groups presented their production of drama, songs and information on certain selected issues like population, environment, nutrition, early marriage and children’s schooling etc.

Closing Ceremony
The closing session was presided over by Mr. Swapan Guha, Chief Executive of Rupantar. Mr. Liaquat Ali, President of Khulna WASA was present as Chief Guest. Mr. A.K. Heru President of Khulna Press Club was also present as Special Guest. Mr. Saifuddin Sobuj facilitated the closing session. Mr. Rafiqul Islam Khokan, Director of Rupantar told that this was the starting point towards a journey to develop and initiate Community Radio in Bangladesh. The presentations of three individual group work on the Community Radio provide us better prospect of Community Radio Programming in this country. He expressed his hopes that CEMCA would extend helpful hands to develop the Community Radio Program in Bangladesh. He, however, expressed through his observation that the participants of the workshop would continue their willingness and efforts in becoming master trainer in future with the utilization of their knowledge, expertise and skill. He thanked all with the expectation of successful outcome of the Community Radio in Bangladesh for well planned communication and information dissemination for the betterment of the community. Ms. Rukmini Vemraju, Program Officer of CEMCA, expressed, while wishing her best wishes for all and specifically for the Community Radio in Bangladesh, the Community is the owner of this Community Radio and we all are the custodians. The programs should always be conducted through community participation and never by copying or cutting any other programs. She thanked all participants including Rupantar and assured full support and cooperation of CEMCA for the Community Radio Program in Bangladesh. Mr. A. K. Heru, President of Khulna Press Club, told that it was good news for all of us that the Community Radio Program would be introduced in Bangladesh. He expressed his satisfaction in participating in this program. at the end of his speech he thanks to Rupantar and CEMCA for their willingness to start the program in Bangladesh. Mr. Saifuddin Sobuj told that the Community Radio is not for a specific person it is for all in particular community. If we work together for Community Radio it would, no doubt, become national asset for the country. Mr. Liaquat Ali President of WASA and Chief Guest of the ceremony expressed that the Community Radio is for all as because none but all are the owner of the Radio. The Community Radio broadcast the thinking of a community but the national radio is based on some people. He hoped that the Community Radio would focus the day-to-day life and livelihood of the common people and help establishing their rights and privileges. He assured his whole-hearted support and assistance towards this Community radio Programming. Mr. Swapan Guha, Chief Executive of Rupantar thanked all the participants who actively participated thsi training workshop for the last three days. He especially thanked Dr. Rukmini of CEMCA and Abhisek Dey of Jadavpur University who came to this program and made it successful through their knowledge and expertise. Mr. Swapan Guha hoped that participants after going back to their work place would willingly perform their responsibility to make the Community Radio Program successful. He also told that through this media we could become more close to the general people. He also told that on the next 12th March, 2009 we are going to celebrate Community Radio Day in Bangladesh and he expected cooperation and participation from all concern on the day especially the participation of the Director of CEMCA, Mr. Sreedhar. He thanked to all the participants for their active participation in the Community Radio Program.