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<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana color=#008080 size=5><STRONG>Opinion Sharing
Meeting on </STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana color=#008080 size=5><STRONG>Role of Community
Radio in implementing </STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana color=#008080 size=5><STRONG>Right To Information
in Bangladesh</STRONG></FONT></SPAN></P>
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lang=EN-US><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT face=Verdana
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana size=3>An opinion sharing meeting on “the role of
Community Radio in implementing Right to Information” was held on
28<SUP>th</SUP> February, 2011, at 11 a.m. in Information Commission Bangladesh
Office at Sher-e-Bangla-Nagar, Agargaon, Dhaka. The meeting was organized by
Information Commission. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana size=3>Ambassador (RTD) Mohammad Zamir <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>of <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Chief Information Commissioner <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>attended as the chief guest of the
program. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Information Commissioners
–Mr.MA Taher and Dr.Sadeka Halim along with 14 licensed Community Radio
Initiators from different parts of the country joined the meeting.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Professor
</SPAN><FONT face=Verdana><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT size=3>Dr.Sadeka Halim,
Commissioner of Information Commission welcomed</FONT></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">
the participants. </SPAN></FONT><SPAN lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana
size=3>Mr.AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of <FONT size=2>Bangladesh
NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)</FONT>described the background
and presented the latest progress situation of the Community Radio
installation.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana size=3>Chief Information Commissioner told in his
speech that Community Radio could be an effective media for the rural people.
So, it should get country-wide coverage .Community Radio contents should reflect
the common aspects keeping the area-wise diversity as well .He told that this
will also open up sectors of cooperation within the CR
Initiators.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana size=3>Professor Dr.Sadeka Halim, Information
Commissioner told that community radio can be one of the best media in
implementing the vision of “Digital Bangladesh”.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Community Radio has got immense
potential in this respect. We have been informed that BNNRC has drafted a “CR
Code of Conduct”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>on Community Radio
Operation this Code of Conduct should be finalized in compliance with CR Policy
of the govt in line with Right To Information Law. Information Commission may
provide all kinds of supports in this respect.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana size=3>Mr.MA Taher, Information Commissioner told
in his speech that community radio will amplify the voices of the rural people
.Community Radio may play effective role in ensuring Right to Information.
Information Commission and CR Initiators will work closely for achieving this
objective.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT face=Verdana size=3>Among others –Ashik Ahmed from Proyash
Manobik Unnayan Sangstha, Dr.Jahangir Alam, Agriculture Information Service
(AIS), Kamrul Hasan Manju, Executive Director, MMC, Sabrina Sharmin of RDRS,
Representative of Bangladesh Radio, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory
Commission (BTRC), Different Daylilies, TV and Radio delivered their speech and
reiterated their commitment for effective role of community Radio in
implementing Right to Information of Bangladesh.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><SPAN
lang=EN-US><FONT size=3><FONT face=Verdana>A total of 46 participants
participated in the meeting.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Bazlu<BR>______________________<BR>AHM. Bazlur
Rahman-S21BR<BR>Chief Executive Officer<BR>Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and
Communication (BNNRC)<BR>[NGO in Special Consultative Status with the UN
Economic and Social Council]<BR>& <BR>Head, Community Radio Academy
<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>Cell:
01711881647 Fax: 88-02-9138501-105<BR>E-mail: <A
href="mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net">ceo@bnnrc.net</A> <A
href="http://www.bnnrc.net">www.bnnrc.net</A></FONT></DIV>
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