Community Radio Serabela 98.8 the youngest community broadcaster in Gaibandha District of the Northern part of Bangladesh initiated by SKS Foundation won the prestigious Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Prize 2017 in the category Radio News Reporting from Asia-Pacific region competing with public service broadcasters, private broadcasting and community broadcasting channels.
The prize (trophy, certificate & cash money) will be handed over to the winner during the 54th Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) GENERAL ASSEMBLY & ASSOCIATED MEETINGS 30 October – 4 November 2017 Chengdu, Sichuan, China
SKS Foundation is a long reputed national NGO engaged in service delivery and rights-based activities for disadvantaged hardcore poor people for their quality life and livelihoods. With this exposure, the expectation from civil society, private and public organizations remain high such that SKS Foundation provides a top quality service to the increasing numbers of very poor and chars dwellers in Bangladesh since 1987. It started development work for the poor and marginalized people through different program interventions. The growth and development of SKS Foundation is the joint effort of a few local self-devoted young men and women, social workers from various academic disciplines. For more information http://www.sks-bd.org
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) actively works to improve recognition of the community electronic media sector [Community Radio | Community TV | Community Film] & its work in and involvement with the communities it seeks to serve from 2000 with support from Free Press Unlimited, The Netherlands. For more informationhttps://www.bnnrc.net
In 1964, the 1st General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), then known as the Asian Broadcasting Union, approved the establishment of an international competition for radio and TV programs titled the ‘ABU Prizes’. During the 48th General Assembly (2011), the ABU adopted a resolution empowering a working party to approve changes in the rules of the ABU Prizes in line with the ABU’s objective of promoting excellence in broadcasting.
Now 17 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 138 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 1000 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters within 6.18 million rural people in 70 upazillas under 15 districts in rural Bangladesh.
The ABU, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014, has currently 281 member broadcasters large and small in 69 countries spread across the region and beyond, from Turkey in the west to Samoa in the east, and from Russia in the north to New Zealand in the south. Established in 1964 as a non-profit, non-government, professional association to assist the development of broadcasting in the region, the ABU promotes the collective interests of television and radio broadcasters and encourages regional and international co-operation between broadcasters.
Most of the ABU’s associate members comprise European, African and North American broadcasters, many of whom have operations in Asia, and pay-TV and cable operators in the Asia-Pacific. Its affiliate members include satellite providers, telcos, production companies, equipment vendors, and regulators.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is a proud member of Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU). It is to be mentioned that Community Radio Pollikontha 99.2 and Community Radio Chilmari 99.2 won the Prestigious ABU Prizes 2015 and 2016.