History of Radio in Bangladesh_

Bangladesh Betar (Bengali: বাং��লা�দে�শ বেবাংতা�র) or BB is the state-owned radio broadcasting

organisation of Bangladesh. It was also known as Radio Bangladesh between 1975 and 1996.

Radio transmission in the region now forming Bangladesh started in Dhaka on December 16,

1939. Initially, the station was located in old Dhaka. Later, the station was relocated to Shahbag.

It played an important role during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971. On March 26, 1971,

the broadcasting center of Radio Pakistan was used to transmit a declaration of independence,

which was picked up by a Japanese ship in the Chittagong Harbor and retransmitted. During the

war, it was known as Shwadhin Bangla Betar Kendro (Independent Bengal Radio Station). Due

to heavy shelling, the station had to be relocated several times, and ultimately moved to Calcutta

on May 25, from where it would broadcast until the end of the war. On December 6, it was

renamed Bangladesh Betar.

Today we have 10 radio stations running in Bangladesh. Those are_

ABC Radio (Bangladesh)

Bangladesh Betar

DHAKA FM 90.4

Radio 2fun

Radio Amar

Radio Dhaka

Radio Foorti

Radio Metrowave

Radio Today

RadioGoonGoon

Types of Radio_

FM (Frequency Modulation) Radio

Frequency modulation, FM is widely used for a variety of radio communications applications.

FM broadcasts on the VHF bands still provide exceptionally high quality audio, and FM is also

used for a variety of forms of two way radio communications, and it is especially useful for

mobile radio communications, being used in taxis, and many other forms of vehicle.in view of its

widespread use, frequency modulation, FM, is an important form of modulation, despite many

forms of digital transmission being used these days.

FM, frequency modulation has been in use for many years. However its advantages were not

immediately apparent. In the early days of wireless, it was thought that a narrower bandwidth

was required to reduce noise and interference. As FM did not perform well under these

conditions, AM predominated and FM was not used. However, Edwin Armstrong, an American

engineer looked at the use of wideband FM for broadcasting and introduced the idea against the

trend of the thinking of the time.

Since its first introduction the use of frequency modulation, FM has grown enormously. Now

wideband FM is still regarded as a very high quality transmission medium for high quality

broadcasting. FM, frequency modulation is also widely used for communications where it is

resilient to variations in signal strength.

FM, frequency modulation basics

The most obvious method of applying modulation to a signal is to superimpose the audio signal

onto the amplitude of the carrier. However this is by no means the only method which can be

employed. It is also possible to vary the frequency of the signal to give frequency modulation or

FM. It can be seen below that the frequency of the signal varies as the voltage of the modulating

signal changes.

Concept of frequency modulation

The amount by which the signal frequency varies is very important. This is known as the

deviation and is normally quoted as the number of kiloHertz deviation. As an example the signal

may have a deviation of ±3 kHz. In this case the carrier is made to move up and down by 3 kHz.

Community Radio

Community radio stations are community owned and operated entities that serve either localized

geographic communities or communities of interest, such as minorities, religious groups and

universities.

Community radio is unique because the stations are run by the communities themselves. They

are owned and managed by the people they serve. The management is usually a small team of

paid staff with the programming conducted by volunteers.

Unlike commercial stations, community stations are not allowed to run for profit. They must be

established as voluntary associations, not-for-profits or trusts. The station’s constitution must say

that any profit will be channeled into further developing the station. To ensure the stations are

not run for profit they are usually subject to strict advertising controls. Commonly the regulator

stipulates that advertising content ought to be capped to allow, for example, a maximum of five

minutes per hour of programming.

New stations often start with a public meeting. Members of a community (either geographic or

community of interest) come together as a working group to create a  vision for the station, plan

programming and develop facilities.  

Over time, more and more members of the community are recruited and trained (FETAC training

is available through) to help out behind the scenes, produce and present programmes reflective of

their community and experience.

100 day broadcasting licenses are secured from the BAI and as a track record is built with

regards to programming, operations, and community involvement, a multi-year licence becomes

available.

To operate full licenses, groups constitute themselves as cooperatives or limited companies with

no share capital, and a board is elected from the community to manage the station transparently

and with accountability in the interests of all.

Community Radio has the capacity to reinforce what is good about Irish Society and to help find

solutions to its failings. Community Radio facilities individuals, groups, and communities to tell

their own diverse stories, to share experiences, and in a media rich world to become active

creators and contributors rather than passive consumers.  It presents a unique vehicle for the

community and voluntary sector, civil society, agencies, NGOs & citizens to work in partnership

to make a difference.

Community Radio offers-

rare and direct media access for all perspectives in our communities, 

the potential for innovation inherent in non-profit, community owned and operated

media

Diversity in the provision of programming, especially where there would be

insufficient profit for the commercial sector and too much cost for the public service

sector. 

Offers a resurgence of local media highlighting local issues, opinions and voices in

contrast to mainstream medias increasingly centralised content production.

The skills, resources and the opportunity to understand media by members of our

communities through actively participating in its creation and delivery.

a unique mechanism to engage with social exclusion by acting as a vehicle for outcome-

driven personal and professional training and development

a powerful tool in providing services and supports to communities, especially

disadvantaged and excluded communities.

the opportunity to promote democracy, human rights and sustainability.

a challenge to global media blandness in reinforcing local identities while acting as a

catalyst for integration and inclusion.

 

Public Broadcasting

Public broadcasting is broadcasting made for the public, funded by the public (through tax) and

controlled by the public (through parliament). The defining feature of public broadcasting is its

inclusiveness. Public broadcasting must be accessible to all and diverse enough to appeal to all.

Unlike state broadcasting, which serves the interests of the state, public broadcasting is uniquely

positioned to serve the public in all its diverse forms.

Further, public service broadcasters (PSBs) are protected from political and commercial

pressures, which positions them to best serve the public’s rights to freedom of expression and

freedom of information. This is why public broadcasting has such a crucial role to play in

democratic societies.

Defining features of public service broadcasting:

Accessible to all

Serving the public interest in all its shapes

Emphasis on quality, balance and impartiality

Provisions for minorities

Commitment to education of the public

Freedom to produce challenging and controversial programming

Independent from political and commercial interference

Forum for expression of national cultural identity

Independence of a public broadcaster is vital: independence for the board and editorial

independence for management. Securing independence means overcoming the prevailing

mindset among those in power that the airwaves belong to the state. MISA believes the

independence of a public service broadcaster in Swaziland will only be ensured if it is

guaranteed in law.

MISA is advocating for such a law to include the following:

- A description of the composition of the PSB board to ensure it is broadly representative

of the public and excludes office bearers with the state and people with financial interests

in broadcasting;

- A public and transparent board appointments procedure that minimizes political and

commercial interference;

- A stipulation that no one has a right to influence the work of the board;

- Editorial freedom for the PSB management;

- Accountability of the PSB is to the public through parliament, not an individual minister

or ministry;

- An adequate and secure funding mechanism that protects from arbitrary interference.

For more detail on public service broadcasting law see the Article 19 Model Public Service

Broadcasting Law under Law Reform.

 

MISA calls on the government to:

Enact legislation establishing a public broadcasting entity, recognizing its full

independence and public service mandate.

Conduct organizational restructure allowing the merger of television and radio with one

independent board to develop the organizational policy.

Allow editorial policies that capture the unique responsibilities of public broadcasting.

Ensure training of management and staff on the ethos and purpose of public broadcasting.

Secure a reliable funding mechanisms that will support program diversity and innovation.

Campus Radio

Campus radio (also known as college radio, university radio or student radio) is a type of radio

station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution.

Programming may be exclusively by students, or may include programmers from the wider

community in which the radio station is based. Sometimes campus radio stations are operated for

the purpose of training professional radio personnel, sometimes with the aim of broadcasting

educational programming, while other radio stations exist to provide an alternative to

commercial broadcasting or government broadcasters.

Campus radio stations are generally licensed and regulated by national governments, and so have

very different characteristics from one country to the next. One commonality between many

radio stations regardless of their physical location is a willingness — or, in some countries, even

a licensing requirement — to broadcast musical selections that are not categorized as commercial

hits. Because of this, campus radio has come to be associated with emerging musical trends,

including genres such as punk and New Wave, alternative rock, indie rock and hip hop, long

before those genres become part of the musical mainstream. Campus radio stations also often

provide airplay and promotional exposure to new and emerging local artists.

Many campus radio stations carry a variety of programming including news (often local), sports

(often relating to the campus), and spoken word programming as well as general music. Often

the radio format is best described as a freeform, with a lot of creativity and individualism among

the disc jockeys and show hosts. A number of these radio stations have gained critical acclaim

for their programming and are considered by the community in which they are embedded to be

an essential media outlet.

Although the term campus radio implies full-power AM or FM transmission over the air, many

radio stations experiment with low-power broadcasting, closed circuit or carrier current systems,

often to on-campus listeners only. Some radio stations are distributed through the cable

television system on cable FM or the second audio program of a TV radio station. Some

universities and colleges broadcast one or more Internet radio feeds — either instead of, or in

addition to a campus radio station — which may differ in radio formats significantly from

licensed traditional campus radio.

Internet Radio

Internet Radio - Internet Radio describes a technical achievement which allows audio to be

digitized and split into small pieces for transmission across the Interent. The ultimate effect is to

create the illusion of "radio". The audio is "streamed" through the Internet from a server in one

location and reassembled on the listener's end by a software player on a computer or Internet

Radio receiver. Internet Radio is not really radio by the traditional definition but an incredible

simulation.

This term also describes the conglomeration of streaming audio which is available on the Internet

which can be listened to by using a software player or browser which supports streaming audio.

In another way, an audio broadcasting service that is transmitted through the Internet. Internet

radio is similar in nature to Internet broadcasting, also called webcasting. However, those

listening to the continuous stream audio broadcast have no control over the stream, similar to

traditional radio broadcasting. Many radio stations worldwide offer their broadcast via Internet

radio to a worldwide audience. Today dedicated hardware devices, commonly called Web radio

or Internet radio appliances , can be purchased that connect to a home network and then to the

Internet to play live audio streams. Internet radio is also called e-radio.

The benefits of an internet radio_

More station choice

An internet radio gives you access to more than FM or DAB digital radio, including some

foreign language stations.

Find new stations

The menus on an internet radio enable you search by different methods including by genre. So

you could search for all of the rock stations available and find new stations that play the types of

music you love.

Podcasts and BBC listen again

You can access podcasts from BBC and commercial stations and just as you might use listen

again on BBC iPlayer or Radio player on your computer, you can access listen again to  shows

through an internet radio, too.

Music player/ media sharing

Most internet radios have a music player mode for streaming music from devices on your home

network. 

If you keep your music collection on your computer at home you can use the radio’s screen to

choose music from your collection and listen using the radio's speakers.

Forget DAB reception

Internet radio works using your internet connection. It doesn't rely on getting a signal from a

transmitter the way DAB and FM do, so it doesn't matter if DAB reception is poor where you

live - you can get your digital radio fix via the internet.

Education System in Bangladesh

The education system and structure of Bangladesh has three major stages-primary, secondary

and higher educations. Primary education is a 5-year cycle while secondary education is a 7- year

one with three sub-stages: 3 years of junior secondary, 2 years of secondary and 2 years of higher

secondary. The private schools also receive strong financial support from the state. The tertiary

education (3-5 years) is provided through universities (31 public and 51 private universities) and

affiliated colleges under supervision of University Grants Commission. Establishment of private

universities has gained momentum in recent years. At all levels, students can choose the medium

of education from Bangla or English.

The Ministry of Education is the supreme state office for education which again is subdivided in

different directorates for each level while running numerous development projects (Education

Projects and Technical projects). According to the article 17 of the Constitution, all the children

of Bangladesh are supposed to receive full free education up to secondary level. Secondary and

higher secondary schools are affiliated under ten (10) education boards.

The boards administer two public examinations - one is the Secondary School Certificate

(SSC) Examination and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Examination. The higher

secondary schools are known as colleges. There are also Madrasah (religiously inclined) and

English medium schools which are enrolled under Madrasah Education Board and Foreign

Education Board respectively. Besides this, a Technical Education Board has been established to

administer the vocational training schools at post-secondary level in Education Board.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board is the authority to develop, approve and manage

the curriculum and text books for primary, junior, secondary and higher secondary level.

Government has also established Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics

(BANBEIS) which keeps educational information at all levels. Bangladesh Government has

published an Education Policy which is developed based on the inputs taken from different

education commissions over the years. There are also many non-profit organizations which

operate informal and semi-formal education for underprivileged children under supervision of

Bureau of Non-formal Education.

 

Linking Radio with Education

Due to potential diversity, the CR technology can most effectively be used for non formal

education for adult people, awareness programs, youth development programs, local community

knowledge sharing, recycling of knowledge, ethnic community preservation programs and in

areas, where density of population is sparse, where access to school is difficult like char (land

within a river) and hilly areas of the country and also isolated places because of less access to

road or other communication, and where access of qualified teachers are very few. Sweeney and

Parlato (1982, p. 13) stated, “Radio plays an effective educational role both as the sole medium

or in conjunction with print and group support".

So, Community Radio has a prospect for education expansion and community schools.

Community Radio can also help, develop and mobilize social capital. This technology is cheaper

too. For example, Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI) is a well-tested teaching and dissemination

method that is inexpensive, accessible and flexible. In Africa, Community Radio has speeded up

and expended the process of information exchange.

The second goal of MDGs is to achieve universal primary education. Education is the backbone

and foundation for a nation. This is one of the fundamental goals as Nobel Lauriat's Amarta Sen

argues, “Development is freedom and education is the royal road of freedom” (Daniel, 2006). As

most developing countries underscore its educational potential and importance, many writers

have proposed that educational radio can be most effective when supported by trained

facilitators, group learning, group discussion, feedback and the use of multimedia approaches,

thus interactive and independent learning help develop social software which is considered

essential for quality education. The dynamic potential of radio in motivating listeners to take

action, modifying behavior, and undertaking activities is evident in the literature thus far.

Distance Learning

Learning is the liberating force of human development and every individual has a right to

education. To serve the aforesaid considerations, ODL helps create democratization in education

for flexible learning system. In ODL, student centered teaching approach is used. Tutors and

learners are physically separated in the system, and distance education institutes usually use

technology like state-owned Radio and Television for a particular time to disseminate contents of

learning to the learners, which might not be effective and accessible to all distance learners due

to inflexible time allocation. Since CR is covering a limited geographical area and focusing on

the local needs, culture and social events, educational and academic programs can be

incorporated into the CR programs at any time of any location as it is more flexible than national

broadcasting.

In addition, distance education institutes have long experiences in using the technology of Radio

and TV. They can apply their experience for CR on segment base as well as programs base. Most

distance learning organizations generally have several outlets for tutorial or other instructional

services in distant and remote areas. Having their own infrastructures, these distant teaching

outlets could be turned into Community Radio Learning Centers (CRLC) for the open and

distance learning institutes and these stations can be worked as local facilitators for the academic

programs of both formal and non-formal education.

Anyanwk (1978 p. 15-16) mentions, "Through collective listening, discussion, and the use of

audio-visual aids, the radio can contribute substantially to the process of transformation of

agricultural traditions, as well as some social and economic attitudes in general". Radio has been

used extensively as an educational medium in developing countries like India, Sri Lanka,

Thailand, South Korea, Mali, Guatemala, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda, Mexico,

Philippines and also proved its impact and efficiency in health, agriculture and other

development issues.

Open University

Radio-based educational opportunities are very much commensurate with the delivery system of

ODL. After 15 years of the establishment of the Bangladesh Open University (BOU), it has

accumulated huge resources in terms of technology and media oriented human resource and

infrastructures to put forward a new look to the Community Radio applications. Bangladesh

Open University needs to adopt the segment base strategies to provide education for all. The case

of Bangladesh is similar as to Louw’s (Paris, France 2007) statement, “.to ensure that

communities who have been denied access to resources, take part in producing ethical, creative

and responsible radio that encourages them to communicate with each other, to take part in

decisions that affect their lives, and to celebrate their own cultures".

The reason for establishing Bangladesh Open University nearly echoes Louw's statement as in

the Mission statement, of the BOU Act 1992 envisages that "the objectives of the University

shall be to expand all levels of education, knowledge and science by a diversity of means,

including the use of any communication technology to improve the quality of education and to

provide opportunities for education to the general public through mass-orientation of education

and to create efficient manpower by improving the quality of education in general".

To accomplish these goals of BOU mission statement, it is no denying the fact that BOU needs

immediate steps for adopting the Community Radio approach. In terms of preparation, BOU has

Media Centre fully equipped with the transmission equipment, full-fledged radio recording

studios, editing suites, portable radio recorders and modern radio broadcasting technology.

However, BOU has already sought the permission from the Government for having its own

frequency allocation.

Adult Education

About adult education Dhaka University VC Prof Arefin was highlighting on the role of mass

media in the socio-economic and the educational development of a developing country. His

message was that both the print and broadcast media can play a vital role in enhancing education

in a developing country. It can shape and create public opinion towards on related issues by

applying its strength and bring changes among individual.

Bangladesh is now in a state of “Media Expansion”, we have lot of TV and radio channels and

every day new channels are coming. Broadcasting media is the most common & popular media

in our country.

In the cases of developing countries, like Bangladesh, implementation of education fully depends

on appropriate use of broadcasting media technology. And the government as well as private

organizations are using Radio and television for meeting these demands.

A significant result has already been achieved in the field of mass education of Bangladesh by

using broadcasting media. All the TV and Radio channels present various educational programs

for the students. These programs become very popular in the country.

Bangladesh is now in a state of media expansion. A large number of people here depend on

newspapers and broadcast media for entertainment. But media also has an important educational

role: Adult students from rural even from city areas can take lesson from watching certain

television programs Like “BBC Janala”. They also can learn a lot of things listening to radio.

And almost every national daily, both Bangla and English, has its education page; they published

both institutional and general knowledge based reports for students.

Education is much more than going to schools and colleges, its purpose is to create awareness

among people. Mass media is providing this kind of knowledge outside of the schoolroom. Thus

it is playing a vital role in creating mass awareness both in rural and urban areas in our country.

Talked with IUB’s Student About Community Radio/

Campus Radio (CR)_

We talked with the students of IUB about CR that what can be done using CR for betterment of

community human life. We got different types of ideas. Some of those findings are shared

bellow_

Lectures can be recorded from classroom and then after editing it can be broadcast

through Campus Radio which will be helpful for the students who were not attending in

the class.

Different types of University related information like admission information, class

cancellation information, exam schedule, news of different types of events that held in

varsity and so on can be announced through the CR.

Different types of awareness programs like community cleaning, keep cleaning home

sides and roads, security awareness, providing basic information for betterment of life

etc. can be broadcast.

CR can be used for source of income through advertisement and be used for socio

economic improvement.

The CR technology can most effectively be used for non-formal education for adult

people, awareness programs, youth development programs, local community knowledge

sharing, recycling of knowledge, ethnic community preservation programs and in areas,

where density of population is sparse, where access to school is difficult like char (land

within a river) and hilly areas of the country and also isolated places because of less

access to road or other communication, and where access of qualified teachers are very

few.

Student Radio Network ensures clients professionalism from all the stations across the

network by combining effective training and development to the stations and the most

cost effective national coverage available. Student Radio Network, Today's Students,

Tomorrows Leaders.

Student Radio Network uses a one-contact point system that is intended to give students

and community radio stations access to airtime sales and ensure that the allocated airtime

that is scheduled is followed correctly by the broadcasters.

Student Radio Network, a newly launched initiative aimed at unleashing the power of the

student radio market, intends to bring in methods that will bridge the existing gap in

getting access to airtime sales and barriers that prevents growth of student and

community radio stations across the country.

Radio creates theatre of the mind - Radio uses theatre of mind to paint a picture or excite

an emotion about the advertised product. Radio stretches the imagination. The listener

becomes mentally involved in picturing the benefits of the product.

Radio is flexible - Radio can create awareness and build a market presence, generate

store traffic. Tailor made an event and trigger call to action response.

Radio is intimate - Radio is a warm, involving medium where the listener feels they are

part of the action not just an observer. It is a very personal relationship where the

listeners get to know their favorite radio personalities extremely well. Radio provides

more than information and entertainment, it becomes a companion - like an old friend

and because of this messages come across in a similar way to a 'word-of-mouth'

recommendation.

So on.

Need Assessment of CR_

Some of the remote areas of Bangladesh are so distant that access to civic facilities like sufficient

primary and secondary schools, electricity, health complex, sanitations etc. are rare and in some

cases these accesses are few. The general literate and illiterate people of those areas are getting

the benefits of radio. Since the radio has been introduced long ago and it has more than 70 years

history of services to the country, and radio is easily portable device as used by less costly

batteries, the people who are not properly literate are capable of operating a Radio. They know

radio as medium of entertainment only and some of them know the programs schedule of the

Radio.

People are realizing that they like to use radio as a medium of basic, primary and higher

education for them or for their children or they like to use radio for celebrating their local

communal festival events or sharing regional knowledge about their own wellbeing, information

exchange or updating knowledge about local market, they did remain quiet in most cases when

they first listened to our questions. Their quietness was the reason of being surprised with such

possibilities.

However, some of them came forward with reply that radio could be very effective for learning

because one radio could be shared by many people and because of its portable nature they could

carry it wherever they would go. Some stated that since their children didn't have teachers to

teach English or Mathematics, their children could learn the lessons from the radio. But added

with a suggestion that these lessons should be regular and the approach of educational radio

content should be need based. Some of them said that it would be profitable if radio informed

them about the price before harvesting of vegetables or other saleable goods, they could make a

good use of the information.

The appropriate use of CR can be very contributory initially for creating informed and updated

mass people of Bangladesh. It may require training and development of human resources to

activate CR suitably for each type of formal or non-formal educational needs of the locality. It is

strongly believed that using Community Radio applications in support of basic education, we

could achieve an accelerating speed of grade achievement. So its really necessary for us to full

implementation of the concept of CR in all over our country.

Conclusion_

Since Bangladesh Open University has expertise and experience in disseminating education

through distance modes using state owned Radio and Television, BOU plans to use those skills

and proficiency through establishment of CR in Bangladesh. BOU can play dynamic roles setting

up CR stations in its 12 Regional Resource Centers (RRC`s) and 80 Coordinating Offices (COs)

throughout the country for broadcasting tutorial programs according to local needs to ensure

quality.

In addition, BOU can also lead to create a place for work with GOs & NGOs and other

philanthropic organizations collaboratively and more comprehensively towards sustainable

educational development. The wide introduction of Community Radio creates new types of

employment opportunity in the country for a range of people, who have to work as programs

producers, presenters, educators, tutors, technicians, facilitators, educational content developers

(radio curricula), which require training and development. BOU can stand here very profoundly

to play a role model for the manpower development of this Community Radio technology.

In this paper, we have given a lot emphasis on Community Radio in various respect of

eventualities since we strongly believe in the case of Bangladesh, this communication tool can be

very appropriately instrumental for GOs, NGOs and other pro-active forces and partners working

in the realm of formal education, basic education, non-formal education, adult education,

continuing education for eradicating illiteracy and other distance academic programs for the

accomplishment of the objective of ‘education for all’. As such, it is expected that at the

inception of Community Radio history in Bangladesh, this radio would be handled and operated

by an educational professional body like BOU.