<div dir="ltr"><div><img src="cid:ii_k7xc25mt0" alt="COVID-19 copy.jpg" width="471" height="221"><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style=""><br></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b style=""><font color="#0000ff" style="" face="georgia, serif" size="4">COVID-19: </font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b style=""><font color="#0000ff" style="" face="georgia, serif" size="4">How Community Radio Broadcasting </font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b style=""><font color="#0000ff" style="" face="georgia, serif" size="4">Coronavirus Education in Bangladesh</font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b style=""><font color="#0000ff" style="" face="georgia, serif" size="4"><br></font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif" style="">Bangladesh
NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (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 in line with shaping the Future of Media, Information &
Entertainment in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4th IR) in
Bangladesh. <a href="http://www.bnnrc.net" style="color:blue">www.bnnrc.net</a> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">BNNRC
has been mobilizing all community radios for developing and broadcasting
awareness building programs on COVID-19: Coronavirus contamination to protect
lives and livelihoods since March 1, 2020.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Context</font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">COVID-19
has disrupted lives and livelihoods of the communities in 158 countries
globally and we are just going to face the same. Bangladesh is the most densely
populated developing country where 1,961 people are live in per square
kilometer with limited knowledge and health care services.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">In
the meanwhile, Bangladesh has confirmed three new coronavirus cases taking the
total to eight so far and three of them have returned home after recovery. Govt.
has shut down all educational institutions until Mar 31, 2020 amid virus scare.
The decision was taken as a precautionary measure so that the students have to
stay at home. Health Minister has asked the expatriate Bangladeshis, who have
returned home recently, and their relatives not to visit mosques for prayers to
help stop the spread of coronavirus. He urged people for avoiding mass
gathering, shuttered sporting, cultural and religious events and to practice "social
distancing" to curb the spread.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Government
has encouraged to stay at home quarantine those who returns from abroad. But it
was observed that some of them are not follow this instruction which is a
serious threat for the community. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">In
this situation, building community awareness is essential and the best option
to prevent COVID-19: Coronavirus. Individual initiatives are not sufficient to
manage this situation. So need coordinated combine action with
multi-stakeholders cooperation- at exceptional scale and speed-can potentially
mitigate the risks and impact of this unprecedented crisis. Hence, community
radio has been playing a vital role for building the awareness of the community
people. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Contribution</font></b><br></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">The
COVID -19 demands cooperation among government, CSOs, local business
communities, multi-stakeholders. BNNRC has been mobilizing the stakeholders for
social disaster preparedness and Disaster Risks Reduction (DRR) since its
inception. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">In
this perspective, BNNRC has been working on COVID -19 covering with the
following issues:</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif;font-size:12pt">1. Animate
CSOs, Government, health service providers and communities for reinforcing
collective action.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif;font-size:12pt">2. Keeping
community people’s daily life normal and livelihood function</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><span style="font-family:Cambria,serif;font-size:12pt">3. Mobilize
further cooperation among government, CSOs, local market and communities’
response</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Approach</font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">BNNRC has also been developed a radio
program outline on prevention of COVID-19: Coronavirus by following the update
information of Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR),
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">BNNRC
has been monitoring the situation 24 hours and coordinating community radio
programs centrally and providing support as and when required. One broadcaster
in each radio stations was assigned as the focal person to coordinate the
special education program. The focal of the community radio stations are-
Lutfunnahar Happy, Cell: 01723577740,
Radio Chilmari, Kurigram; Akhi Akter, Cell: 01757534092, Sarabela,
Gaibandha; Md. Mohaimanul Islam Rafi, Cell: 01773522380, Radio Mukti, Bogra;
Rezaul Karim, Cell: 01723967912, Radio Mahananda, Chapainawabgonj, Asad Akand,
Cell: 01711283762, Radio Padma, Rajshahi; Md. Masud Rana, Cell: 01744424706,
Radio Boral, Bagha, Rajshahi; Md. Imon Hasan, Cell: 01763919073, Radio Jhenuk,
Jhenaidah; Mamun Hossain, Cell: 01789511571, Radio Nalta, Satkhira; Md. Salman,
Cell: 01771 480457 of Radio Lokobetar, Barguna, Md. Shamim Mridha, Cell: 01713
68 88 89 of Krishi Radio, Amtoli, Barguna;
Ms. Konika Rani, Asst. Station Manager, Cell: 01708120390 of Radio
Meghna, Charfashion, Bhola; Mr. Afser Hossain, Cell: 01745385680 of Radio Sagor
Dwip, Hatiya, Noakhali, Ms. Mohasena Akter Mina, Cell: 01849266558 of Radio
Sagor Giri, Sitakund, Chattogram; Mr. Abdul Aziz, Asst. Cell: Radio Naf, Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar, Mr. Md. Al
Amin, Cell: 01718199056 of Radio Pollikontho, Moulvibazar and Mr. Moshiur
Rahman, Cell: 01614202910 of Radio Bikrampur, Munshigonj.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">The
contents are mainly about the virus, how COVID-19: Coronavirus spreads,
symptoms, precautionary measures including personal awareness and suggestion
for sick patients as per the guideline of the Institute of Epidemiology,
Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), UNICEF in line with WHO COVID-19:
Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan OPERATIONAL PLANNING GUIDELINES TO
SUPPORT COUNTRY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE. </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">The
radios are broadcasting altogether 20 hours program daily on Corona virus
contamination in different formats like- news, Public Service Announcement
(PSA), radio spots, radio talks, magazine, drama, jingles, interview and expert
opinions etc. The contents of the programs are- how to contaminate, symptoms of
the patients, precautionary steps for preventing contamination, service
providers, service providing agencies and service delivery points, and the role
of community people.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Key findings:</font></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Community Radios stations, as one of the source of
information, helping to raise awareness on COVID- 19 and reinforcing Behaviour Change
Communication (BCC) by CSOs, Government, health officials and locally elected
bodies(LEB). </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Community Radio stations are building awareness to change
attitudes among community people at different points in their daily lives. </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Community Radio stations, as a platform for those who involve
in COVID -19 response to update rural communities. They are also providing a
channel for two-way communication with community people where listeners are
sending SMS or call in with questions.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Community Radio stations</span> have been coordinating with the District
and Upazila level Coronavirus Prevention
Committees.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">Community Radio stations</span> have assigned one broadcaster in each
radio stations as the focal person to coordinate COVID – 19 program.<b><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"></span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Community Radio stations are broadcasting programs on COVID
-19 in local languages or dialects. </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Community Radio stations are producing contents which speaks
directly to localized issues and concerns, and features trusted local people in
a way that nationally or regionally produced content cannot.</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Implications:</font></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">It is really working and
having a very positive effect at the rural communities. Community Radio
stations help to reduce the panic of COVID – 19 gradually by broadcasting
awareness programs. Now the community people </span>are taking precautionary measures to prevent contamination of
COVID – 19. <span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial">People now understand more about the COVID - 19. Community Radio
stations have already been established a well-trusted source of information for
rural people of Bangladesh. </span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><b><font face="verdana, sans-serif">Contact</font></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><span style="background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><font face="verdana, sans-serif">BNNRC
has formed a monitoring team consists of 5 members. Mark Manash Saha acts as
the Program Coordinator. Cell: +88 01712 144 180, email: <a href="mailto:mark@bnnrc.net" style="color:blue">mark@bnnrc.net</a></font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt"><font face="verdana, sans-serif"> ----------------------------</font></p><div><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><b><font face="georgia, serif">Bazlu</font></b><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">____</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR | Chief Executive Officer |</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif" color="#9900ff">[Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations]</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif" color="#ff9900"><b><br></b></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif"><b>Policy Research Fellow</b>, Shaping the Future of Media, Information & Entertainment</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution(4th IR)</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif"> </font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">House: 9/4 Road: 2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207| Bangladesh|</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Phone: +88-02-9130750| 9101479 | +88 01711881647</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif">Fax: 88-02-9138501 | <font color="#9900ff"><a href="mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">ceo@bnnrc.net</a> | <a href="mailto:bnnrcbd@gmail.com" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">bnnrcbd@gmail.com</a> |</font></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><font face="georgia, serif" color="#9900ff"><a href="http://www.bnnrc.net/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">http://www.bnnrc.net</a></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1RJOnIexObj-wUKa-eEDOkHzeTze7cf5s&revid=0B2fnWF1nL9MZNVU4MlNoOVdnUzRTWkRDWndlY0NVVnVOblVNPQ" width="420" height="126"><br></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>