The Dalit Voice in Community Radio Experience, Challenge & Strategies in South Asia Bangladesh Initiative

1. The Dalit Voice in
Community Radio
Experience, Challenge &
Strategies in South Asia
Bangladesh Initiative
AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for
Radio and Communication
www.bnnrc.net

2. Dalit in Bangladesh
Bengali Dalits : Hindu, Christian and
Muslim) found across the country
Non-Bengali Dalits: Non-Bengali
Dalits who previously migrated
From India to what was then East
Bengal. (1835 to 1850 during the
British colonial period)
Approximately 5.5 million Dalits and
people from socially excluded
communities in Bangladesh

3.  The state shall not discriminate
against any citizen on grounds
of religion, race, caste, sex or
place of birth.
 Constitution of Bangladesh,
Article 28(1)

4. - Allocation fund for Development of Housing
- Included in Government Safety Net Program
- Included in Governmental Micro Credit Program
- Special Seat Reserve 1.0% of University of Dhaka along with other 2
University
Government Response in Bangladesh

5. Dalits push for anti-discrimination law: 18 Jan 2014
 To improve the lives of Dalits, rights groups have been pushing for
legislative changes, particularly the proposed anti-discriminatory law 2014
 Dr Shah Alam, a member of the Law Commission of Bangladesh "The law
will be an umbrella law which will address not just discrimination faced by
Dalits, which is discrimination due to profession and identity, but also other
forms of discrimination including religion, race, gender, physical
disabilities”
 Zakir Hossain, chief executive of Nagorik Uddyog, a rights group, added:
"Even if it is an umbrella law, it will still be a great development for the
Dalit population."

6. Problems of Dalit in Bangladesh
- Problem of recognition and exercise of
constitutional rights of Dalit and
excluded communities
- Problems related to employment,
housing, health and education
- Dalit women - life and deprivation
- Political participation and empowerment
of Dalit and excluded
- Poverty, untouchability and type of
discriminations of Dalits and excluded

7. Role of Community Radio in Dalits and people from socially
excluded

9. Program for Dalits and people from socially excluded
communities in Bangladesh to address the 4 Deficits
Deficit of Information – Low awareness on standards,
norms, rights & entitlements
Deficit of Participation – Inadequate institutional
spaces for Dalit engagement in governance
Deficit of Alternatives – Limited or no options with
regard to alternatives (espcially for poor and
vulnerable)
Deficit of Accountability – Weak Monitoring &
Regulation; Poor grievance redress

11. Community Radio Response in Bangladesh
Access to resources ! Fairer Institutions ! Participation and
engagement ! Enabling Environment
- To build awareness amongst Dalits and excluded communities of their
socio-economic, cultural, and political rights.
- To build public awareness against discrimination based on work and
descent.
- To make policy makers (both government and non-government)
sensitive and responsible to meeting the rights and needs of Dalit and
excluded communities.
- To ensure access of Dalit and excluded communities to development,
basic services and benefits.

12. Course of Action: On Going
- Organized Orientation Program for Producer/Station Manager
- Provide Fellowship to Dalits Youth Women for Radio Journalism
- Community Radio Producing Magazine program about Dalits issue
- News about Dalits issues through Community Media News Agency(CMNA)
- Integrated Dalits Issues in Capacity Building Process