Bangladesh NGOs 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, Office of the Prime Minister’s, Government of Bangladesh.
BNNRC represents the community radio broadcasting sector to Government, Industry, Regulatory Bodies, Media, and Development Partners since 2000. https://www.bnnrc.net
BNNRC’s approach to media development is both knowledge-driven and context-sensitive. It considers the challenges and opportunities created by the rapidly changing media environment in Bangladesh, including community radio development and giving voices to the voiceless.
BNNRC is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) accredited with World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), SDGs Media Compact of the United Nations, and UN WSIS prize winner 2016, Champion 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 for media development and observer organization of UNFCCC and member of Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) of UNFCCC.
BNNRC has been implementing climate change and climate justice focus projects in line with the Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) like Community-led initiatives for climate justice and resilience in the islands and coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh since 2016.
Program broadcasting of the community radio stations aims to reduce or avoid the potential losses
and damages caused by hazards, or climate change to assuring prompt and appropriate assistance to communities to achieve rapid and effective recovery in line with the Building Back Better. BNNRC has been engaged in using eight community radio stations in coastal areas of Bangladesh as a knowledge tool, community radio offers benefits in the following ways:
Speaking to communities in local languages using terms and phrases that are easily understood; Providing two-way interactive social learning through listeners’ clubs, call-in shows, and other forms of exchange; Enabling the communication and exchange of knowledge between people who need it, e.g., rural farmers, in a consumable, deployable and non-threatening way; Communicating
local knowledge, needs and demands beyond the community to inform policy, research, and other
communities; Providing the only media available to communities that have little or no access to other methods of conveying information and knowledge;
BNNRC is utilizing the power of community radio and communication to help reduce poverty & support community people in understanding their rights through COMMUNITY CLIMATE AIRWAVES about Ecologically Critical Area (ECA).
Empowers People: Increasing effective Political Participation through Multi-Generation Reach
Creates Space: Developing a more inclusive Public Space through Multi-Platform Presence &
Multi-Generation Reach
Influencing Power: Improving responsiveness from power holders.
Conceptual evolution and diversity of BNNRC’s Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) program for achieving Connecting, Voicing, Empowering & Amplifying Communities Adaptation in Ecologically Critical Areas;
The quality programs and the content produced by rural youth and youth women of the community broadcasters have already earned international recognition from many institutions at home and abroad. Among others, we can mention the UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS) winner Award 2016, champion awards 2017 & 2019, Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), UNICEF Meena Media & National Population Award etc.
At present, community radios reach 9.0 million listeners in 117 Upazila under 16 districts in Bangladesh. A total of 1000 young broadcasters are now working with these stations throughout the country; half of them are young women and belong to marginalized groups.
BNNRC has been working with mainstream media on digital safety and security, conflict-sensitive journalism, SDGs localization, promoting health for all, climate change and disaster management and other issues.
Community Radio broadcasting is becoming an active ground for organizing dialogues at the rural level. These dialogues are helping the rural mass to find out their own voice and ensure leverage of their free opinion in respect of social, economic, political, cultural and environmental issues.
The Board of Trust (BoT) is the highest policy-making body of the network looking after all governance issues of BNNRC. BNNRC has been working with a national and international development partner. BNNRC has its own furnished office at Shyamoli Dhaka.