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<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT><STRONG> </STRONG></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p><STRONG> </STRONG></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><FONT size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Concept note:</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><FONT size=5>Bangladesh
Pre Consultation on 2<SUP>nd</SUP> World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters (AMARC) Asia Pacific Conference:<o:p></o:p></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt; COLOR: blue"><STRONG><FONT size=5>The Progress of
Community Radio in Bangladesh<o:p></o:p></FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><STRONG><FONT size=5>13 February,
2010 Dhaka Bangladesh<o:p></o:p></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></FONT></FONT></DIV>
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align=left><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT> </P></FONT></FONT>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT><FONT
face=Verdana><B>Introduction:</B> The 2nd <SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters</SPAN><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> - </B>Asia Pacific
(AMARC-AP) Conference: Community radio for Sustainable Development and Good
Governance will bring together community radio broadcasters, activists,
academics, policy makers, and representatives of the donor community and
governments to review the development of the community broadcasting in the Asia
Pacific region in the last 4 years. </FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>It will take a careful look at thematic areas of development such
as the empowerment of women within the CR sector, the role of community
broadcasting in peace building, it’s role in the face of global climate change
and at times of natural disasters as well as for poverty eradication. The
regional conference will address practical issues such as capacity building in
areas of management, technology, community participation, monitoring and
evaluation, media convergence, and networking and the conference will recommend
steps that will ensure the way forward for the CR sector in the
region.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>Bangladesh government approved ‘the Community Radio Broadcasting,
Installation and Operation Policy 2008’. The present government has showed keen
interest on CR in their election manifesto (19.1) which is titled, ‘Charter for
Change’. Followed by this commitment pro-active initiatives have been taken by
the concern ministry as well. A baseline study has done by Bangladesh NGOs
Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) consequently in ten districts.
Ministry of Information and UNICEF-Bangladesh have jointly agreed to conduct a
study to develop a comprehensive community radio strategy and its action plan.
In accordance, the Ministry of Information has received clearances for 27 CR
applicants and the rest are under consideration. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>The Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS-2) also emphasized CR as a tool
for development. A series of activities are going on for operating community
radio in the country. Community Radio Academy has started with a vision to build
capacity, research and development, and technical cooperation of this
sector.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.5in; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>Honorable Secretary for Ministry of Information Dr. Kamal Abdul
Naser Chowdhury </FONT><FONT face=Verdana>has kindly consented to be present as
Chief Guest in the Pre Consultation. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>The Pre Consultation will be organized by Bangladesh NGOs Network
for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) with support from UNICEF Bangladesh.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>Honorable Chairman, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory
Commission (BTRC) will be invited to be the chief guest in the closing session
of the pre-consultation.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana><B>Purpose:</B> The overall theme of the Bangladesh Pre
Consultation will be the progress of community radio in Bangladesh. There are
both challenges and opportunities to establish community radio in Bangladesh.
Lots of initiatives are under processing and hopes are there to have community
broadcasting soon. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>This consultation will create an enabling environment for
initiators, advocates, academicians, practitioners, development partners and
researchers to interact with policy makers and implementers. This intended
coalition will generate idea and working partnership for better and effective
community broadcasting system in the country. Broadly MDG and our own
development roadmap will be focused as well to address in the said broadcasting
system.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana><B>Main issues for discussion and method:</B> A paper will be
presented on ‘The progress of Community Radio in Bangladesh: Challenges and
Opportunities’, which cover the present situation, status, obstacles,
preparation and other practical issues related to CR. In line with MDG and PRS-2
the community radios have role to play for fostering development. There are
technical and operational matters to be addressed. This paper will consider
these with due concentration. Followed by a short discussion the present session
will end. After that four thematic groups will work on the following
themes;</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>Group#1: <B>CR station Management<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>Group#2: <B>CR Broadcasting Technology<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>Group#3: <B>Community Participation in CR</B></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>Group#1: <B>Monitoring and Evaluation
Framework<o:p></o:p></B></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>The output of the pre-consultation will be included in the booklet
published for the Bangladesh delegates in the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> World Association
of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) Asia Pacific Conference, Bangalore,
India (20-23, February, 2010)</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><FONT
face=Verdana>Consultation format (tentative):<o:p></o:p></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>10:00-Registration, 10:30-Presentation, ‘the progress of Community
Radio in Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities’, 10:50- Discussion, 11:
05-<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Tea break, 11:30- Group discussion, 12:00- Group presentation, 01:00-
Closing<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><B><FONT
face=Verdana>Participation:<o:p></o:p></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><FONT
face=Verdana>Distinguished Member of Parliament (MP), Policy–Makers and
Representatives from Government, Community Radio Initiator, Media, Academia,
CSOs, and Corporate Sector are expected to join the Bangladesh Pre
Consultation.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><o:p><FONT
face=Verdana> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"></FONT><FONT
size=2></FONT><BR>Bazlu<BR>_______________________<BR>AHM. Bazlur
Rahman-S21BR<BR>Chief Executive Officer<BR>Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and
Communication(BNNRC)<BR>&<BR>Member, Strategy Council<BR>UN-Global Alliance
for ICT and Development (UN GAID)<BR> <BR>House: 13/1, Road:2, Shaymoli,
Dhaka-1207 <BR>Post Box: 5095, Dhaka 1205 Bangladesh<BR> <BR>Phone:
88-02-9130750, 88-02-9138501<BR>01711881647 Fax:
88-02-9138501-105<BR> <BR>E-mail: <A
href="mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net">ceo@bnnrc.net</A>, <A
href="mailto:bnnrc@bd.drik.net">bnnrc@bd.drik.net</A><BR><A
href="http://www.bnnrc.net">www.bnnrc.net</A><BR></P></BODY></HTML>