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

Bangladesh Initiative

AHM Bazlur Rahman-S21BRChief Executive Officer

Bangladesh NGOs Network forRadio and Communication

www.bnnrc.net

Dalit in Bangladesh Bengali Dalits : Hindu, Christian andMuslim) found across the country

Non-Bengali Dalits: Non-BengaliDalits who previously migrated From India to what was then EastBengal. (1835 to 1850 during the

British colonial period)

Approximately 5.5 million Dalits andpeople from socially excluded communities in Bangladesh

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)

- 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

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."

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

Role of Community Radio in Dalits and people from socially excluded

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

Community Radio Response in BangladeshAccess 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.

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