Bangladesh: Permission for 116 Community Radio Stations Advised

In principle permission to install about 116 Community Radio stations has been recommended by the National Regulatory Commission on Broadcasting. Yesterday 15 July, 2008 the National Regulatory committee of Community Radio decided after reviewing the recommendations of the technical sub-committee of Community Radio. These recommendations will be sending shortly to the Chief Advisor and Information Advisor of Non-party caretaker Government, People's Republic of Bangladesh for final approval. About 180 applications had been submitted. 56 Applications had been withheld by the regulatory committee after the report of technical sub committee. Emphasis had been given to establish 5 for coastal districts   and 3 for each district  according to the importance. In the related National regulatory committee of Community Radio meeting the chairperson of the committee and information secretary Mr. Jamil Osman presided. The  other member of the committee Mr. Md. Mahbubul Alam, Director General of Bangladesh Betar, Md. Abu Taher, Joint Secretary of information ministry, Mr. Humayun Kabir Khan, Joint Secretary of ministry of state, Mr. Anwarul Haque, Joint Secretary of ministry of Law, Professor Deen Mohammad of BUET, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission(BTRC) director Let Col Md. Shahidul Alam and related officials were present. Information secretary Mr. Jamil Osman told in the meeting that these Community Radio Stations will focus on the grass root level population's well being, socio-economy and culture. He also said, Government has been taken the right steps to start the Community Radio movement successfully in the light of the laws & regulations. The related process will be finalized soon.
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AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC)
& Member, Strategy Council
UN-Global Alliance for ICT and Development (UN GAID)
www.bnnrc.net