Coastal fishing community is raising their voice through community radio

Community radio Lokobetar is playing significant role for dissemination of early warning messages, local weather messages, coping mechanism to disasters, information recovery and rehabilitation and also information on first aid, evacuation, cyclone shelters and standing orders on disaster after cautionary signal no. 4 and other GoB instructions on emergency basis.

Community radio Lokobetar, established in coastal district Barguna has rapidly created a stir among local residents. The radio has emerged as a blessing for the destitute people, who are living outside the coverage of modern cable network.

“Without Community Radio Lokobetar, we don’t know what would have been happened to us. We flee the disaster, along with our children at evening and reached cyclone center after hearing new on the radio. And we returned when we again heard Lokobetar’s announcement on mobile phone. Without Lokobetar we could not even sleep at night.” Bilkis Begum from Sidr affected Barguna’s Majher Chor, was telling her experience, as she had lost her near and dear ones in cyclone in the 2007. On April 11, 2012 when people of Borguna were remaining deeply worried over the possibility of a Tsunami, community radio Lokobetar was their only friend.

Appreciable programs in the radio’s current programs list are on awareness raising during disasters, necessary preparations for cyclone and climate changes. Moreover, agriculture-based programs have already become popular with local farmers making queries of important information on agriculture.

Lokobetar broadcasted cautionary forecast relentlessly on preparedness of disaster, during the time of disaster and post disaster like Mahasen, Komen, Roanu, Mora and Fani. Moreover, programs on environment and climate change as per Bangladesh Climate change strategy and action plan are also broadcasted.