Community Radio should more active to face disaster

Expert says at roundtable seminar

Masses participation, regular monitoring and evaluation, broadcasting proper information in local language round the year are necessary for successful disaster pertinent community radio program. Community radio should be more active in providing information to face the challenges of disaster in marginal community of coastal areas. Experts suggested in a roundtable seminar on ‘Capacity assessment of community radios for disaster campaigning in Bangladesh’ at Port City International University(PCIU).

Forum for Development and Journalism studies (FOCUS) arranged the program in support of Hoso Bunka Foundation (HSF) of Japan where keynote speaker was Dr. Mohammad Sahid Ullah, professor of Communication and Journalism at University of Chittagong(CU). Journalist Omar Kaiser, Joint Editor of Daily Prothom Alo, moderated the seminar.

To make a manual on how the capacity of community radio’s can be strengthen, presenting success and limitations of community radio’s in Bangladesh, keynote speaker Mr. Sahid Ullah invited experts comments from the attendees.

Experts suggested community radios to provide information in the three stages like pre disaster, disaster and post disaster information among coastal people o aware about disaster.

Among others senior journalist, editor of Cvoice24.com Mr. M. Nasirul Haque, Professor Alok Pal and Prof Edris Alam of geography department, CU, General Manager of BTV, Chittagong Center Nitai Kumar Das, Dr. Sahidul Islam, deputy director of MET department of Bangladesh government, Gopal Chandra Dev, Regional Controller (News) and Miss Tabassum Haque program producer of Bangladesh Radio, Chittagong center, Program producer of Radio Naf Mr. Harunur Rashid, Samir Kanti Barua, BSS, Bureau Chief Chattogram, mRawshon Akther, Associate prof of  Communication and Journalism, CU , Shital Kumar Nath, Senior Manager, CODEC, and Dilruba Akter, Chair and Jewel Das, Senior lecturer of Journalism  and Media Studies, PCIU, were present at the round table seminar.