Since Friday evening, seven community radio stations in northern regions of Bangladesh have been broadcasting radio programs on flash flood situation to make the community people aware for taking precautionary measures to reduce the loss. The community radio stations are also broadcasting programs through Facebook, You Tubes and other social media too.
In the meanwhile, the community radio stations- Community Radio Padma (Rajshahi), Community Radio Pollikontho (Moulvibazar), Community Radio Chilmari (Kurigram), Community Radio Radio Mukti (Bogura), Community Radio Bikrampur(Munshiganj), Community Radio Sarabela (Gaibandha) and Community Radio Boral (Bagha, Rajshahi) have broadcasted 18 hours programs on flood situation. The programs are produced in the formats like- special bulletins, magazine programs, spot reports, interviews, voxpops and Public Service Announcement (PSA) etc.
The contents of the programs are forecasting on flood, precautionary measures, ongoing situations, report on the affected areas, how to protect the children, women, pregnant mothers, older citizens, live-stocks and household stuff, child diseases, food supply, rehabilitation work, seed and seedling, Vet-feed, maintenance of road communication, how to avoid and what to do in case of snake bits, 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.
A total 21 community broadcasters have been continuously engaged in broadcasting at different community radio stations.
The broadcasters are maintaining liaison with the disaster monitoring cells at district and Upazila administration. They keep contact and collect updated information from the volunteers from the disaster-prone community. They are getting updates, guidelines and aware about measures to be taken. Community radio stations are also encouraging the communities with information for facing the situation.
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
Due to heavy rain fall and upstream onrush water, the level of river water is raising rapidly and already been exceeded the danger line in many points in 8 districts.
he Brahmaputra river has crossed the danger level at Ulipur, Chilmari, Roumari, and Razibpur in Kurigram, Dharala in Kurigram Sadar, Nunkhawa at Nageswari and Bhurungamari, Jamuna has crossed above the danger levels at Fulchhori in Gaibandha, Bahadurabad in Jamalpur, Kazipur in Sirajganj, Sariakandi in Bogura, and Elasin in Tangail, and Tista at Rangpur Sadar & Rajarhat.. The low-lying lands in these districts may face flash floods,” said Executive Engineer of the Flood Forecasting Warning Centre, BWDB. The Padma River is likely to flow above the danger level in Bhagyakul and Goalanda, leaving Munshiganj and Rajbari susceptible to floods.
The water level in the rivers around Dhaka is also rising although these are unlikely to overflow. Director of Bangladesh Meteorological Department, has also warned about the risk of floods in some northern, north-eastern and south-eastern parts of the country as a result of the torrential monsoon rain. People in the areas are in an adverse situation.
Community radios are working closely with District and Upazila Flood Control Room. It is to be noted that the broadcasters have obtained the Disaster Risk Reduction training from Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC).
Community broadcasters have been continuously working rotationally at the radio stations. Besides, hundreds of volunteers are communicating from their locality by giving updates on the present situation.
Community radio broadcasters are maintaining liaison with the district and Upazila disaster monitoring cells, Bangladesh Betar, WAPDA and Union Parishads. Community radios are broadcasting the interview of Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Chairman of Upazila and Union Parishad, District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, Upazila Health Officer, Upazila Agriculture Officer, representatives of Disaster Management Committee and victims as well.
BNNRC is maintaining full-time contact and coordination with community radio stations. The contact points for the community radio stations are;
Mr. Boshiur Uddin, Station Manager, Radio Chilmari, Kurigram.
Cell: 88 01719 46 49 81. E-mail: boshir.radiochilmari@gmail.com
Mr. Mehedi Hasan, Sr, Station Manager, Radio Pollikontho, Moulvibazar. Cell: 88 0171198 5510. E-mail: mehedi.mh@brac.net
Ms. Shahana Parveen, Station Manager, Radio Padma, Rajshahi
Cell: 01712 61 70 29. Email: sahinaparvin.bd@gmail.com.
Mr. Ariful Islam Chowdhury, Senior Station In-Charge, Radio Mukti, Bogura
Cell: 01735933156, E-mail: acrm156@gmail.com
Mr. Awlad Hossain Khan Shibli Station Manager, Radio Bikrampur, Munshigonj
Cell: 01618329309, Email: ahkshebly@gmail.com
Mr. Monasib Foysol Tonmoy, In Charge, radio Boral, Bagha, Rajshahi
Cell: 01712 684514, E-mail: monasibfoysal@gmail.com
Mr. Mahfuj Faruque, Station Manager, Radio Sarabela
Cell-01713484466 mahfujfaruque86@gmail.com
Mr. Hiren Pandit, In-charge, Disaster Control Room, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), Dhaka Phone: +8801726311101 E-Mail:
hiren@bnnrc.net
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).
Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) has already created Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system on Disaster Early Warnings to saving lives & livelihood and continuing Emergency Alerts and Warnings through dedicating a phone number 1090. Mass people can get Emergency Alerts and Warnings by dialing to 1090 first then to press 5 for significant information.
MoDMR has been operating this facility to provide support to general public 24/7 access to receive update pre-recorded multi-hazard early warning messages that are generated from Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) and Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
Pic: Ref- Dhaka Tribune