The launching event of “Teachers’ Handbook” under the project titled “Basic English Language for Outreach Radio Audience(BELFORA)” was held on June 22,2013 at the Conference Room of Moulvibazar Municipality, Moulvibazar. The program was organized by Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication(BNNRC) and Radio Pollikontho, Moulvibazar under the support of the American Center, Embassy of the United State of America, Dhaka.
The objective of the launching event was to share the draft “Teachers’ Handbook” with the local experts, academia, media practitioners and government officials of Moulvibazar for their feedback, comments and suggestions.
A total of 28 participants representing from local government, academia, media along with the representatives of The American Center, Dhaka took part in the sharing discussion.
Mr. Mehedi Hasan, Station Manager, Radio Pollikontho explained the objectives of the event as well as of radio Pollikontho. He requested all the participants to take part in the discussion actively.
Md. Azizur Rahman, Program Manager(CEP), BRAC expressed his gratitude to BNNRC and The American Center, Dhaka for selecting Radio Pollikontho for producing and broadcasting the English Language Learning radio episodes.
Mark Manash Saha, Program Coordinator, BELFORA of BNNRC presented the goal, objectives, outcomes and activities of BELFORA as well as BNNRC and community radio in brief. He also shared the importance of English language at present. He told that as the developed material is a living document so we can give our comments and suggestions now to enrich the material so that we could adapt those in the final document.
Mr. Bilal Faruqi, Cultural Affairs Officer of The American Center, Embassy of the United State of America, Dhaka shared the perspective of American Center as well as American States department related to education especially upgrading the skills of English language in Bangladesh. He also added the service supports available at The American Center of Sylhet.
Mrs. Musammat Badrunnesha, the developer of “Teachers’ Handbook” made a short brief on the draft material. She presented the importance of English language and the use of “Teachers’ Handbook”.
Among all Mr. Mohammad Asahdullah, Teacher, Syed Shah Mustafa College; Mr. ASM Saleh Sohel of BAPA; Mr. Syed Humayed Ali, Bangla Vision; Mr. Jasim Uddin, District Officer for Child Affairs, Moulvibazar; Mr. Abdul Mozid, District Education Officer, Moulvibazar; Mr. Maruf Ahmed Chowdhury, Upazilla Education officer, Moulvibazar; Mr. Syed Mushahid Ahmed, Researcher, Mrs. Mahmuda Ahsan Siddiqua, Sr. Teacher, Blue Bird School and College, Sylhet and Mrs. Maya Wahed, Principal, Shishu Kanon took part in the open discussion. They appreciated the initiative as well as for the draft material with some suggestions too. They also expressed the interest to provide input on the draft within a short time.
In his closing speech, Mr. Ashraful Alam Khan, Upazilla Nirbahi Officer, Moulvibazar Sadar, as the Chairman of Management committee, Radio Pollikontho expressed his gratitude to The American center, Dhaka and BNNRC for implementing such a need-based program through radio Pollikontho. He also announced that he would distribute some radio sets,from Upazila administration, among the radio listeners in Pollikontho broadcasting area,which he expected would strengthen the program implementation.
Mr. Mark Manash Saha, Program Coordinator, BELFORA of BNNRC moderated the sessions of the launching event.