The country's first community radio named Lokobetar has begun test transmission in the district town of Barguna to build public opinion on development issues like democracy, good governance, human rights, anti-corruption, health and women empowerment.
Freedom Of Expression
UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Award 2010 conferred
Nazrana Chowhdury of NTV, one of the 12 private satellite television channels in Bangladesh, has won the UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Award 2010 for the best investigative report. The report identifies some mistakes in the primary and secondary level text books.
Introduced in 2008 by UNESCO Dhaka, the award is already one of the most sought-after and prestigious journalism awards in Bangladesh. UNESCO has been conferring the award in investigative journalism in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) held on May 3 each year.
Abul Kalam Azad, Minister for Information and Cultural Affairs, handed over the award that carried a cash prize of Tk 50,000 and certificate to the winner at a ceremony held at a city hotel on 3 May 2010. The ceremony organised jointly by UNESCO Dhaka and UNESCO National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU) was attended by over 100 colleagues from the media sector who were eager to find out this year’s winners of UNESCO journalism award.
UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Award 2010 Opens
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Bangladesh is happy to invite submission for UNESCO Bangladesh Journalism Award 2010. UNESCO Bangladesh has been giving away this award since 2008 as a part of its effort in promoting freedom of expression and media development in Bangladesh.
Nagorik Media Forum launched in Bangladesh
UNESCO supports creation of the first ever citizens' media forum in Bangladesh
In Bangladesh citizens are largely unexposed to the notion that they have a stake in the media. Newspaper readers or TV viewers are happy to play the passive consumers even as their counterparts in neighbouring India and Pakistan have started raising their voices on media issues. A strong relationship between the media and citizens based on mutual trust is crucial for developing and sustaining free and pluralistic media organisations and indeed for healthy democratic societies. But it's a process that has to be nurtured and built over time. There has been no serious attempt in this regard in Bangladesh, until recently.


