Radio is still one of the most popular media in every developing country in the world. Radio is playing a vital role in creating public awareness and public opinion on different social and cultural issues, in making new issues and continuing its aspects and above all in advancing the all round development of the country. Not only in the developing countries, rather even in the developed countries like USA and the European countries radio is playing effective role in influencing the public opinion and informing the people. Though the radio service in Bangladesh is totally under the control of the Government and there is much criticism and question about its role in the society, yet radio is the largest and most popular broadcast media to the Bangladeshi people. It was proved in the report of National Mass Media Survey conducted in 2002. This report says that 85% people here actively listen to radio and its coverage area is the whole country. On the other hand only 55% people watch television while its coverage is one-third area of the country. Due to having no matter of electricity and its being less expensive and available, radio is still a most popular medium in the country. But because of the full control of the Government over radio, it cannot play cooperative role in promoting local trade and commerce related issues.

There are three broadcasting centres of Bangladesh Betar (Radio) at Rajshahi, Rangpur and Thakurgaon covering the whole northern region of the country and in the Govt. statistics, the number of radio listeners is about three and a half crore in this region. Most of the radio listeners of this region are directly or indirectly involved with agriculture and small business. Though radio authority broadcast a few programs relating to agriculture, trade and economic issues from their own urge, it does not fully respond to the needs of the concerned people and there is no involvement of the core tradesmen in these programs. As a result radio cannot play proper role in developing and extending the local trade and commerce in this area.

Considering the above circumstances, it will be attempted under the proposed project to broadcast radio talk shows to inform the messages relating to the promotion of local trade and economic issues to the mass people. CCD is the first non-government organization, which succeeded to use radio effectively in creating mass awareness of HIV/AIDS issues earlier. CCD succeeded to involve the Govt. controlled radio in spreading AIDS preventive messages. The success and experience of those radio talk shows inspired CCD to broadcast more talk shows on economic and trade promotion issues under this project.

Program Strategy:

Under this project, about 22-radio talk show will be broadcast from Rajshahi Radio Centre. Through these radio talk shows it will be attempted to create public opinion for the local trade and commerce promotion activities, to spread the necessary messages on this issue and to orient the mass people about the EU initiative in economic and trade promotion sector.

Read more about Radio Talk Shows

[Last Updated on 29 December, 2007]