The Bangladesh Teleco-mmunications Regulatory Authority's delay in allocating radio spectrum frequencies to the fourteen non-governmental organisations which obtained licences to start community radio services in April last year is the main reason why none of them have started broadcasting, according to the NGOs
On 22 April 2010, the information ministry gave licences to 14 NGOs which intend to start community radio services on condition that they begin broadcasting within one year.
Four of the NGOs have still not received their frequency spectrums from the BTRA, and ten of them only received theirs more than two months ago in February and March.
A month ago the information ministry extended the period of time before broadcasting was required by 6 months.
Sabrina Sharmin, the programme director of Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service Bangladesh which won a licence to broadcast 'Radio Chilmari' in Kurigram district's Chilmari upazila, told New, 'We got a licence last April but we got a frequency spectrum only this February. That's why we failed to start our journey within the required period.'
She said that the radio stations are now selecting the foreign companies from which they will purchase the transmitters and antennas. 'After we have made our choice, we need to get the approval of purchase from the BTRC.'
Ziaul Haque, the chairman of Radio Nalta set up by the Nalta Hospital and Community Health Foundation for broadcasting in Kaliganj upazila of Satkhira district, told New Age that they had ordered an antenna and transmitter and hoped that they would be able to start test transmission by 22 June.
A number of other licensees are in the same position, including Srijony Bangladesh which will broadcast 'Radio Jhinuk' in Jhenidah town and Young Power in Social Action which will broadcast 'Radio Sagar Giri' in Sitakunda upazila.
The information ministry approved the idea of a community radio service in Bangladesh in 2008 and set up three committees to supervise the new service
Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, secretary to the information ministry who is also president of one of these committees — the National Regulatory Committee — told New Age that he hoped that the radio stations would come on the air within two or three months.
He admitted that the reason for the delay in broadcasting was the time it took to get frequency spectrums.
However BTRA's senior assistant director, Mohammed Sohel Rana, told New Age that they gave the frequencies within two months after the organisations applied for them.
He blamed the delay on the time it took for the home affairs ministry to give the NGOs security clearance.
According to the government's policy, community radios can play a vital role in providing education, information, entertainment and thus spur the development of the rural areas, particularly if they air programmes which will provide solutions to the problems faced by their clients.
Bazlur Rahman, the chairman of the Bangladesh NGO Network for Radio and Communication which is helping the NGOs to set up community radio stations, told New Age that the UNESCO, Canadian International Development Agency, Japanese embassy and Palli Karma Sohayok Foundation are providing funds for the establishment of the radio stations.
Some radio stations are also seeking funds from other sources
No NGO from the Chittagong Hill Tracts has so far applied for a community radio licence. Information commissioner Sadeka Halim told New Age that she thought that it was essential for the people of the hills to have their own community radio stations.
Source: New Age
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