The Radio as an Instrument for Change: Bangladesh Perspective
Robaet Ferdous, Associate Professor, Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University
Sheikh Mohammad Shafiul Islam, Assistant Professor, Journalism & Mass Communication, Daffodil International University
Abstract
The radio is a mighty electronic media having gigantic power to reach the audience with news, education, entertainment and developmental motivation programmes. Due to nature of the media, it can even reach the remotest areas of the world within seconds. The radio is very useful to those million of illiterate people of the developing countries who cannot read and write. In Bangladesh, the state owned radio channel ‘Bangladesh Betar’ has played an effective and glorious role during and after the liberation war. In the 1980s, radio played significant role to campaign on population control, alleviation of poverty, prevention of cholera, mass education and other development issues. At present, the media is losing its appeal gradually though it has still a great potentiality in creating new opportunities for development as a tool of change. The article aims at analyzing the role of radio as an instrument for facilitating positive changes in the development sectors of the country.
[For detailed article, please consult 'Social Science Review, The Dhaka University Studies, Part-D, Vol.30, No.1, June 2013]