Community radios broadcasting 160 hours prog to save lives, livelihood

Due to disconnection of electricity, the Community Radio was the main source of information about the forecast of cyclone for coastal area of Bangladesh

People move to cyclone shelter centres on 19 May 2020 as Cyclone Amphan approachesProthom Alo

Eight community radios and two Community Visual Radio stations of coastal areas have continued broadcasting about 160 hours cyclone bulletin due to the emergency situation created over cyclonic storm Amphan, reports news agency UNB.

From the morning of 17 May, eight community radios and two Community Visual Radio stations have been working with 57 community broadcasters and 298 volunteers, said a media release on Wednesday.

With Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) of the government, Community radio stations are broadcasting special bulletin updates in every one hour over the cyclone from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

The radio broadcasting will continue till the end of the emergency situation.

Community radio stations have deployed two consistent broadcasters to be responsible to continuously communicate with Upazila and District Disaster Management Committee, and district and upazila disaster control rooms, to have the latest update on weather situation due to the cyclone Amphan.

Along with that, they are providing the latest related information on disaster preparedness and damage prevention.

Their offline collaboration is also underway with miking in the locality, collaboration with Red Crescent members, Scouts and Cyclone Preparedness Programme (CPP) volunteers at local levels to help reduce loss and damage.

The Community Radios played valuable roles during the past cyclone Mahasen, Roanu, Comen, Fani and Bulbul.

Due to disconnection of electricity, the Community Radio was the main source of information about the forecast of cyclone for coastal area of Bangladesh.