Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is going to conduct a national baseline survey on Community Radio in the country. Moreover, a directory of the community radio initiators in Bangladesh will be published soon from Community Radio Academy.

The present care taker Government formulated Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy – 2008 on 12 March. 180 applications were submitted from different organizations for the permission of community radio. Primarily 116 organizations have been identified as eligible of policy approval for community radio in a meeting of the National Regulatory Committee recently held in the Ministry of Information.

But, no survey or study was conducted in Bangladesh to identify the community choice, needs and demands about the language earlier, contents, broadcasting hour or types of programs to be used for community radio. In this situation, the aspirants and initiators of the community radio stations are actually in a total darkness about these immensely needed issues regarding community radio operation.

That is why BNNRC will conduct a national baseline survey of the community information needs, preparedness, acceptance and community choice through representational response, questionnaire, focus group discussion and taking interview in ten proposed areas priority areas for community radio set up selected from six divisions in the country. The survey report will be published and disseminated among the key stakeholders of community radio through arranging a national seminar in Dhaka.

Moreover, to strengthen a network and knowledge sharing among the community radio initiators, a directory of the community radio initiators in Bangladesh will be published incorporating mailing address, contact numbers, e-mail and web address.