UNICEF Bangladesh has honored five community radio stations for their outstanding contribution in championing child rights during the 10th Meena Media Award 2014.
Five Community Radio stations of Bangladesh received this award in “Radio category” are: Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2, Community Radio Pollikontho 99.2, Community Radio Bikrampur 99.2, Community Radio Mahananda 98.8 and Community Radio Borendro 99.2.
Meena, is an animated cartoon character who symbolizes a change agent and advocates the cause of children across South Asia. The 10th award ceremony brought children’s voices to the forefront through a colourful cultural event. An eight member expert panel of judges comprising of creative writers, veteran media professionals and academics assessed each entry through a strict marking process where the names of the participants were replaced by a specific code number
H E Mr. Hasanul Haq Inu, MP, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, UNICEF Representative, Pascal Villeneuve and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador & Film Actress Arifa Zaman Moushumi presented the awards to the winners at a ceremony held in Dhaka in the presence of media representatives, children and other distinguished guests.
Community Radio Jhenuk 99.2 has achieved the 1st position (under 18 category) in Radio Category on broadcasting an investigative report titled: “The children of ASRAYAN (the govt shelter village) program found less interested to come to the school.”The second prize (over 18 category) was awarded to community radio Pollikontha 99.2 for producing investigative reports on the children deprived of primary education. Radio Bikrampur 99.2 has achieved the 2nd position (under 18 categories) for the report on using slang songs by children in their day-to-day lives. Besides, Radio Bikrampur 99.2 won the 3rd prize (over 18 category) to produce and broadcast report on the life of Harijan- Dalits Community children jointly shared by private FM Radio Today. In creative media category Borendro Radio 99.2 won the 1st prize (under 18) for making a radio drama on the lives of Street Children. And Radio Mahananda 98.8 got the second prize (in over 18 categories) for the magazine program named as `Shishu Kantho’ on education and entertainment for the children.
An eight member expert panel of judges comprising of creative writers, veteran media professionals and academics assessed each entry through a strict marking process where the names of the participants were replaced by a specific code number. The judges included, Selina Hossain, Farid Hossain, Robaet Ferdous, Fahmidul Haque, Zakir Hossain Razu, Samia Zaman, Ratan Paul and Qadir Kollol.
The radio stations were awarded taka 50,000(Around 600 US $) 25,000 (Around 300 US $) and 15,000 (Around 200 US $) according to their positions in order, along with a crest and certificate to each winner.
The Meena Media Award was introduced by UNICEF in 2005 to celebrate excellence in creative journalism in both print and broadcast outlets. The award is named after Meena, a popular animation character held dear by children and adults alike in Bangladesh. Meena is a change agent in her community and her stories champion the rights of children across South Asia.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication is promoting the advocacy with the government in relations to community media with other organizations since its emergence from 2000. BNNRC has been addressing the community radio and community TV access issue for helping to bridge the information gap of rural Bangladesh.
Now 14 Community Radio Stations are on-air in the country, aiming to ensure empowerment and right to information for the rural community. They are broadcasting altogether 120 hours program per day on information, education, local entertainment and development motivation activities. Around 1000 Youth Women & Youth are now working with those Stations throughout the country as rural broadcasters. Already the Community radio programs have been widely accepted among the local community.14 community radio stations presently covers more than 4.6 million listeners.
The reality of today is that the bondage between the community people and local-level community radio stations are getting strengthened day-by-day. Community Radio has now become their part of life. Community Radio becomes the instrument for the livelihood battle of the rural people.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication is congratulating UNICEF Bangladesh and our winning Community Radio stations.
