Currently, 19 community radio stations and two online community radio operators are in the country. Over 1,000 youth and youth women produce 160 hours of programs on various topics daily. Of the 1,000 Broadcasters, 54% are youth, while 46% are youth women.  

Community radio broadcasting is one platform where youth women have played a substantial role in raising women’s voices, particularly those from left-behind minority communities. Such exposure has given youth women the right to express themselves, enjoy more empowerment, and voice concerns for women in a much open and liberal manner without fear or obstacles.

Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2 May 2024: EMPOWERHOUSE, Denmark, and Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) jointly organized an online consultative workshop titled Community Radios as Platforms for Women’s Empowerment in Bangladesh with the participation of women station managers and assistant station managers from seven community radio stations.

The workshop aims to delve into the progress, challenges, and future prospects of women’s empowerment in and through community radio in Bangladesh. Ms. Birgitte Jallov, the Founder and Director of EMPOWERHOUSE, Denmark, facilitated the workshop. Eight women station managers and assistant station managers from seven Community Radios and representatives of BNNRC participated in the workshop.

The participants of  Community Radio stations are Ms. Shahana Parveen, Station Manager Community Radio Padma 99.2FM (Rajshahi), Ms. Allaya Ferdous, Station Manager, Community Radio Mahananda 98.8FM (Chapainwabganj), Ms. Riya Roy, Assistant Station Manager, Radio Sundarban – FM 98.8 (Khulna), Ms. Papiya Sultana, Station Manager, Community Radio Sagardwip 99.2FM (Hatiya, Noakhali), Ms. Umee Nishi & Ms. Mosume Rani Das, Asst. Station Manager, Community Radio Meghna 99.0FM (Charfasion, Bhola), Ms. Gulfan Ara Hury, Coordinator, Community Radio Saikat 99.0 FM. (Cox’s Bazar) and Ms. Esrat Jahan, Station Manager, Community Internet Radio Voirob (Bagerhat).

After the participants’ self-introduction, the program started with Ms. Birgitte’s opening keynote speech and the objective of the consultative workshop. She also shared her knowledge and working experience of women and community radio in various countries.

The workshop explored several key discussion points, including the experience of engaging women in the station, the importance of covering women’s lives and perspectives, the role of radio programming in community relations, the challenges faced by women broadcasters, the positive changes and results emerging from radio programs, the ongoing tasks, and the collaborative efforts between community radio stations and women’s rights organizations.

The participants shared their initiatives, progress, challenges, visions, and dreams for positive change and a way forward in the open discussion session.

Ms. Papiya Sultana, Community Radio Sagordwip’s station manager, said that Radio Sagordwip’s location clearly illustrates that Hatiya Island is vulnerable to cyclones and similar natural disasters. We are focused on designing our programs to make people aware of how to protect and be safe during cyclones or tidal surges. Apart from our professional duties, we also have significant responsibilities for our community. During peak season (May – April), the community is vigilant and vulnerable to disasters. Besides, we produced and broadcast more programs based on the success of women to encourage other women. Besides, we are also aware of adolescent girls on various life skills issues through the listeners club. Radio Sagardwip plays a vital role in the community through constant awareness programs.

Ms. Allaya Ferdous, Station Manager Community Radio Mahananda, said
Because of my top position at the radio station, I think more females work there than at other stations. A total of 16 youth women works at Radio Mahananda.

Most women broadcasters working on radio Mahananda are students and unmarried young women. They raise awareness about child marriage and abuse issues in other sections of the community through radio events and in person. By doing this, there is a slight decrease in the incidence of juvenile delinquency in that area. Women are successfully working in the community and the field without any hindrance. Although there were few objections initially, now they can convince their own family. Even then, they can continue their job after marriage. Due to such efforts to remove discrimination against women, societies are now more aware of women’s rights.

Ms. Sahana Parvin, Station Manager of Radio Padma, said that many women broadcasters are working at Radio Padma while running their studies. So, at the same time, they can earn and prepare for the broader job market in media. I think its impact is more significant.

Ms. Mosume Rani Das, Assistant Station Manager of Community Radio Meghna, said the Station, entirely led and run by youth women, creates a revolt. It is situated on an Island where the fishing community is the majority. Youth women living in this community have faced child marriage due to poverty and lack of education. So, Radio Maghna focuses on issues and raising awareness through radio programs. Radio Meghna created a listeners’ club only with adolescent girls and made them aware of preventing child marriage between themselves and others in the community by calling 999.  As a result, child marriage is reduced markedly.

Like Radio Meghna, Community Radio Saikat is also led and run by youth women. Ms. Gulfan Ara Hury, Coordinator of Radio Saikat, said that women broadcasters in our station handle everything from station management to field-level activities.  Our primary focus areas are women’s empowerment, health awareness, climate change, and disaster risk reduction. We produce and broadcast more successful stories of women entrepreneurs. As a result, many women became more career-oriented and started their initiatives and businesses by listening to our program. That’s the impact of Radio Saikat.

Ms. Riya Roy, Assistant Station Manager of Radio Sundarban, said we reach the community through the listener club with information about life and livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, and climate change issues. Many are benefiting from and increasing women’s awareness of health risks and prevention measures through broadcast radio events.

Ms. Esrat Jahan, the Station Manager of online community radio Radio Voirob, said that with a group of lively and enthusiastic broadcasters, Radio Voirob tries to alleviate the information poverty of the coastal area of Bagerhat and spread its culture and heritage from the national to international level.

All participants mentioned coping with digital transformation and raising funds as their present challenges. The workshop ended with a vote of thanks.