ABSTRACT

Community radio in Bangladesh is in its infancy, existing only since 2010 when it became the third tier of radio broadcasting. Seven years later, 17 licensed stations operate across rural Bangladesh, though this number is expected to double in the next few years. Their audience reach is geographically small but high in number, infrastructure limited, financial support not guaranteed, technology basic and often outdated, airtime limited. Their human resources are mainly local volunteers. However, the impact on their communities is significant. Where traditional media cannot reach, these stations educate, entertain, and inform local populations in their own dialect and about issues relevant to them. This chapter uses results from a survey among stakeholders in the 17 existing community radio stations as well as the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) to discuss what respondents see as their stations’ primary role as they serve their communities and create a self-sustainable ecosystem.