Project period: May 2017 to January 2018

Implementing agency: Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)

Implementing partner: Community Radio Sarabela and Radio Barendro located at northern part of the country.

Part One: Executive Summary of the project:

BNNRC is implementing a short-term pilot project STRIVE – Strengthening Resilience to Violence and Extremism through Community Radio. The main goal of the project is to strengthen community resilience in preventing violence and extremism. Two Community Radio Stations community radio Sarabela and Community Radio Barendro located in northern part of the country are the implementing partners . Major task of the project includes baseline survey, skill development training for broadcasters on production of issue-based programs against extremism and violence.  The project contributed for better understanding on ideological conflict, social harmony, family ties and community role in reducing the extremism and violence. The project also promoted social dialogue through community radio program,

Part 2: Project Description

Like many countries in the world Bangladesh facing the challenges of radicalization which caused violent extremism for more than a decade. The attack in Holy Artisan restaurant in Dhaka on 1 July 2016, Dhaka is very painful incident where more than 10 foreigners and some other local people including 2 police official and a army officer lost lives. This tragic accident is an eye opener which demonstrates that violent extremism can affect individuals of all educational levels and socio-economic backgrounds. It was observed that the youth are the most vulnerable group to be recruited for violent extremism. Later few more violent incidents occurred in different parts of the country by the extremist. It was found that they were misguided and used religion spirit for violence. Even they were detached from their families.

Under this context BNNRC took the project titled STRIVE – Strengthening Resilience to Violence and Extremism through Community Radio.

Project Goal: Strengthening community resilience in preventing and countering violence and extremism

Project Objectives:

-To enhance skills of young community radio producers to address violent extremism

-To increase the understanding of rural community people regarding reducing violent extremism

Targeted audience/beneficiaries (Direct and indirect): 50 young Community Radio Journalists and Broadcasters and 3,000 rural community people (preferably the youth and youth women) of the selected 02 Community Radio Stations broadcast areas

Indirect audience/Beneficiaries: 20,000 listeners (2.5%) of the total listeners in 02 CR audience coverage areas.

Role of Community Radio to Reducing V & E – Violence and Extremism:

Community radio is playing significant role in dissemination of messages among the community and also engages the community in radio programs. Community Volunteers are acknowledged as resources of the community radio stations. Considering the important role of Community Radio in social mobilization, BNNRC initiated to implement some activities targeting the reduction of violence and extremism partnership engaging the community radio with support from Democracy International-DI Bangladesh and established partnership with 02 Community Radio stations, on a pilot basis. The focus of this project is the rural youth along with other sections of people of rural community. It is expected that at the end of the project the target people will have strength of resilience to response, protect, pursue and prevent violent extremism. Ultimately, this initiative will contribute to strengthen their resilience by equipping them in 04 key areas; those are:  Response, Protect, Pursue and Prevent from radicalization and violent extremism.

About implementing agency -BNNRC

Bangladesh NGO’s Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is a national Apex body on Community Media Development working for building a democratic society based on the Principles of Free Flow of Information, Equitable & Affordable Access to Information & Communication Technology (ICT) for remote & marginalized population.  BNNRC is registered with NGO Affairs Bureau under the Office of the Prime Minister and has been working as a national NGO since 2000.

Project activities

2.1 Baseline Survey: Conducted a baseline survey on the situation of radicalization and violent extremism in selected two Community Radio Station coverage areas. The survey identified the existing knowledge on violent extremism, its impact, ways to overcome the situation and their expectations on how the community radio can contribute towards reduction of extremism.

Total number of survey respondent was 384 covering both 192 females and 192 male. Age group of the respondent was from 15 to 30 years. The survey was conducted using direct interview method through structured questions.  A compilation report produced on the basis of data analysis at the end of the fact-finding process.

2.2. Skill development Training for the Radio Broadcasters (national level):

A skill development training course was organized for the concern Community Radio (CR) Broadcasters. A total of 13 producers and station managers took part in this 3 days training course, among the participants 5 were female. The participants were imparted knowledge on program designing, program format and broadcasting techniques. They got idea to produce PSA, magazine program, talk show, bulletin on countering violence and extremism. the training session was conducted by external experts.

Especially they were oriented on how the programs against terrorism and violence will be designed, and how the community people including the local elites and religious leaders will be engaged in this project activities.

2.3 Orientation for the stakeholders and other radio broadcasters on violence and extremism.

2 orientation course was organized in project areas with the participation of 25 broadcasters and 50 persons from stakeholders.  The participants of national level skill development course facilitated these orientation in project areas.

2.4  Formation and Orientation of youth Listeners Club:

2 youth listeners group was formed having engagement of 60 persons to mobilize the community to listen the community radio program on reducing violence and extremism. These youth group members also got orientation from trained broadcasters and BNNRC officials. Those youths also provided feedback on radio program to make the initiative more effective.

2.5  On air of Radio Program against violence and extremism

The trained CR broadcasters produced magazine program, dialogue, public service announcement (PSA) and special radio bulletin. A total of 48 programs covering 20 minutes for each program are on air.

2.6. Radio Live Dialogue/talk show:

There are separate time-slot for broadcasting live dialogues of 20 minutes duration. Relevant stakeholders (like Youth, students, teachers, religious leaders and representatives of professional groups, journalists, parents, social-cultural activists, lawyers and local community representatives) are joining in the talk shows. A total of 48 episodes of live talk has been planned and  most of them are already on air.

2.7 PSA: Ten (10) Public Service Announcement (PSA) has been produced and telecasting of PSA is continued.

2,8  Theme song: A common theme song has been produced and also is on air to motivate the community  against the CVE issue .   

2.9. Meetings  with Professional Groups :  A total of 32 professional group meeting is planned and till now 25 meetings have been organized. The participants discuss on community engagement to reduce the violence and extremism and identify self-role and also the parental role to guide their young member of the family in right way. Every group consist of 30-35 members

2.10 . Multi-stakeholder meetings: 

The representatives from the listeners’ groups are joining in a multi- stakeholder meeting in each quarter to review the progress, their role and share the experiences. Each CR station organized 04 meetings in the project period. Around 30 participants (male-female) representing all individual groups are attending in the meeting. Participants discussed on CVE situation of their area and comment on broadcasted radio program on violence and extremism issue.

2.11 Community outreach events by youth listeners club:

The youth listeners’ club members are assisting to organize meetings with other existing radio listeners’ club members and local educational institutions in different places of the area. Each radio station organizes 24 meeting along with 30 participants (male-female) of each meeting within the project period. In the meeting,  the participants are exchange  knowledge and experiences targeting the reduction of violence.

Highlights of project partnership activities

Through the project, 35 youth Community Radio Broadcasters got skill and broadcasted radio program 30 youth listeners club members took part in orientation and played active role in social mobilization. Parents were more sensitized and became serious to take care of their children at home and society. Community people are more interested to join radio program and they express willingness to engage more in social mobilization activities to reduce the violence and extremism.

Challenges and Future Perspective of the project

• CVE is a new issue to community radio broadcasters and highly sensitive in a religious based society
• It was difficult to ensure the stakeholders engagement with project activities
• As religious issues is related with extremism, so the program team had to play very careful role for avoiding any wrong message to community
• Lack of secondary materials of VE

The knowledge generation on Countering Violence Extremism (CVE) and community mobilization will sustain in the coming days. The persons who got awareness through orientation will not be involved with violence activities and from social accountability they will more responsive on this issue. The Community Radio Stations will also continue similar program engaging the community to sustain the achievement from this project.

WSIS Action Lines: C-3, Access to information knowledge, C-4, Capacity Building.

The project facilitated public access to information on reducing the violence and extremism issue, such as key contents of UN convention for Countering Violence and Extremism ratified by Government of Bangladesh and other knowledge documents which includes local rules and regulation etc.

The project contributed in capacity building of the community broadcasters in production of programs against violence and extremism.  Also enhanced basic literacy on Countering Violence Extremism (CVE) issues to the listeners, promoted youth engagement and volunteerism

Project contributions towards SDGs implementation

This project is contributing towards SDG 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.). Project activities is supportive to SDG 16.1, 16.a . also contributing towards SDG 16.1, (Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere ) and 16.a (  Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacities at all levels, in particular in developing countries, for preventing violence and combating terrorism and crime.)

Views on WSIS Stocktaking and Prizes contest:

WSIS prizes will be very much encouraging to the community media broadcasters and also with the community. This award will act as source of inspiration to all stakeholders around the world in line with role of Countering Violence Extremism (CVE) through Community Radio.