Eight community radio & two Community Visual Radio stations of coastal areas have been started broadcasting about 160 hours cyclone bulletin due to the emergency situation, addressing Cyclone Strom Amphan.
From the morning of 17th May 2020, eight community radio & two Community Visual Radio stations have been received signal number 4 from and have deployed all together 57 Community Broadcasters and 298 volunteers to be responsible at a time.
With Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) of Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Community radio stations are broadcasting special bulletin updates in every one hour from Bangladesh Meteorological Department related to the Cyclone Amphan. The radio broadcasting will continue till the end of the emergency situation.
Community radio stations have been deployed 2 consistent broadcasters to be responsible to continuously communicate with Upazila and District Disaster Management Committee, and District and Upazila disaster control room, to have the latest update on weather situation due to the cyclone Amphan. Along with that, they are providing the latest related information on disaster preparedness and damage prevention. Their offline collaboration is also ongoing with miking in the locality, collaboration with Red Crescent members, Scouts and Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) volunteers at local levels to help reduce loss and damage.
Eight Community Radio and two Community Visual Radio Stations are broadcasting radio programs in the coastal region are complying with Bangladesh Meteorological Department to contribute in protecting coastal people. All the broadcasters are abiding by instructions from the on Bangladesh Meteorological Department how to monitor the programs circulated and to take action to promote relevant disaster and emergency programs.
Coastal community radio stations have had active representation in Information are shared through radio broadcasting and mobile phone with the radio listeners club, who are representing own locality and broadcasting Public Service Announcement (PSA) and recorded interview with community, Local government representatives, disaster management committee, with disaster-related issues.
During broadcasting of the program’s community radios are facing challenges like, power disruption, poor internet and mobile network, antenna tower weaken by the stormy wind, local communication problem and maintain COVID-19 related social distance.
The community radio stations are Community Radio Nalta 99.2 (Kaligonj, Satkhira) Community Radio Lokobetar 99.2 (Barguna Sadar), Community Rural Radio: Krishi Radio 98.2 (Amtoli, Barguna), Community Radio Meghna 99.00 (Charfashion, Bhola Island), Community Radio Sagor Dwip 99.2 ( Hatiya, Noakhali), and Community Radio Sagor Giri 99.2 (Sitakund, Chattogram) and have their preparation to keep their stations on-air for 24 hours.
BNNRC has formed a Monitoring Cell at Dhaka headed by Mark Manash Saha (email: mark @bnnrc.net, Cell: 01712 144180) for monitoring the situation, exploring information and support, and share it among the Community Radio stations in different locations.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is maintaining full-time contact and coordination with the coastal community radio stations.
The role of Community Radio in Bangladesh was very praise-worthy during the past cyclone Mahasen, Roanu. Comen, Fani and Bulbul. Due to disconnection of electricity the Community Radio was the main source of information about the forecast of cyclone for coastal area of Bangladesh.