For the last 10-day, five community radio stations in the north and north-eastern regions of Bangladesh have been broadcasting radio programs on the current flood situation to make the community people aware of taking precautionary measures to reduce the loss.
The Community Radios are -Radio Pollikontho ( Moulvibazar) Radio Chilmari ( Kurigram, Rangpur) Radio Mukti(Bogura), Radio Mahananda (Chapainawadganj) and Radio Sarabela (Gaibandha).
Due to heavy rainfall and the flash flood, upstream of India’s Meghalaya and Assam, the level of river water is rising rapidly at many points, especially in Surma and Monu River of Moulvibazar. The water level of the river of Tista, Ghaghot Jamuna, Brahmaputra of Kurigram, Borguna and Gaibandha district is also rising rapidly. The radios are broadcasting special news bulleting, radio spots, jingles, and Public Service Announcement (PSA) etc.
The contents of the programs are forecasting on the flood, ongoing situations, reports on the affected areas, precautionary measures, how to protect the children, women, pregnant mothers, older citizens, live-stocks and household stuff, child diseases, food supply, relief and rehabilitation work, seed and seedling, Vet-feed, maintenance of road communication, how to avoid and what to do in case of snake bites, how to call to Flood Alarming Center, and the role of the community people to protect and reduce the loss of lives and resources etc.
Community radios are broadcasting the interview of Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Chairman, Upazila and Union Parishad, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, Upazila Health Officer, Upazila Agriculture Officer, Representatives of Disaster Management Committee and the victims and community people as well.
Around 30 community broadcasters have been continuously engaged in broadcasting at that community radio station.
The broadcasters are maintaining liaisons with the disaster monitoring cells at the district and Upazila administration. They keep in contact and collect updated information from the volunteers from the disaster-prone community. They are getting updates, and guidelines and are aware of measures to be taken. Community radio stations are also encouraging the communities with information for facing the situation.
The contact points for the community radio stations are;
Mr. Mehedi Hasan, Sr, Station Manager, Radio Pollikontho, Moulvibazar. Cell: 88 0171198 5510. E-mail: mehedi.mh@brac.net
Mr. Boshiur Uddin, Station Manager, Radio Chilmari, Kurigram, Cell: 88 01719 46 49 81. E-mail: boshir.radiochilmari@gmail.com
Ms. Allaya Ferdous, Station Manager, Radio Mahananda, Chapainawabganj, Cell: 88 01711483731 , E-mail: afliza@proyas.org
Mr. Ariful Islam Chowdhury, Senior Station In-Charge, Radio Mukti, Bogura, Cell: 01735933156, E-mail: acrm156@gmail.com
Mr. Mahfuj Faruque, Station Manager, Radio Sarabela, Cell-01713484466 mahfujfaruque86@gmail.com
BNNRC in keeping constant coordination with all Community Radio stations and providing information and guidance in the whole process. It is to be noted that the broadcasters have obtained the Disaster Risk Reduction training from Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC).