GOB Funded Motivational Programme for the Development of Rural People

Aims of the Programme
This special publicity and motivational programme has been adopted by 64 District Information Offices to inform people particularly rural people living at grass root level (beyond media coverage) of government's development programmes and success achievements and to associate the people with development activities of the government.

Though this department has manpower and technical support, it is not possible to cover vast areas of the country with present budgetary provision. Through this special programme of two years, starting from July 1,2005 to June 30,2007, development activity, policy and strategy of government will be highlighted in all parts of the country. As a result common people will be informed and motivated about development activity of government. Elimination of poverty, economic development including reducing of maternal and neonatal and death rate population growth rate, increase in scope of self employment, increase of life expectancy and development of human resources will be reinforced through this programme. Successful implementation of this programme will assist to achieve the goal of PRSP.

Fields for Special Publicity Scheme
The programme aims at informing the rural people about the present Government's success and development in the fields of anti dowry activities, empowerment of women, prevention of women and child trafficking, creating public consciousness about social crimes like acid throwing, tuition free female education and education stipend, development of environment and medicinal tree plantation, development of law and order situation, fish farming, prevention of catching jatka, duckery ,poultry and rearing of goats to remove poverty, right of women and children, enhancement of freedom fighter's and aged persons' allowance, exemption of interest on agriculture credits, reduction of arsenic affects, sanitation, mother and child health care, reproductive health service, infrastructure development etc. The people will be motivated in these activities and as a result people will be associated with development process of the country. Almost every part of the country will be brought under publicity network.

Publicity Strategy
The Deptt. of Mass Communication will conduct this special publicity activities by using inter personal and mass communication system. For this purpose cinema unit and cinema vans of District Information Offices will be offices are used. Apart from this, local opinion leaders, public representatives and civil administration will be associated with this programme by arranging discussion meeting, gathering of women, folk song programme etc. Side by side booklets will be distributed among people.

1. Publicity of development programmes through folk songs
Folk song is a popular medium of entertainment and interaction to people of Bangladesh. Folk song of every area of Bangladesh has some specialty and particularity. Good effects of different development activities introduced by present government viz. tuition free female education, education stipend, preventing unfair means in examination, anti dowry campaign, exemption of interest on agriculture loan, preventing jatka catching, forestation, enhance of allowances for aged people, freedom fighter and widows, activities for removal of poverty like rearing of goats, sanitation etc. will be produced to people living at grass root level through melody of folk songs. Popular mediums like Gambhira of Chapai Nawabganj area, Bhaoia of Rangpur area, Jari, Sari, Marina of Kushtia area, Hason Raja's song of Sylhet area, folk songs of Chittagong and Mymensingh , rural songs of Dhaka area, drama, duel of poets of Jessore area, puppet show of Comilla area will be used. To present development activities of the government through folk song a musical team named village bird was engaged in every information office in the decade sixties. Similarly every information office will present development activities of government through five popular singers (including hands) of that locality.

2. Motivating and associating people with development activities through
mobile exhibition of films
Film is a strong medium in the field of development communication. In every District Information Office there are one multimedia projector unit and one 16 mm projector unit. Through exhibition of films on development activities people will be informed and motivated about activities adopted by government. It is a routine responsibility of Department of Films and Publications to make film and supply it to Department of Mass Communication for exhibition.

3. Discussion meeting and gathering of women
Upazilla level discussion meeting will be arranged under the programme with the participation of members of different professions and communities of upazilla on development programmes of government such as social movements against dowry, preventing oppression on women, prevention of women and children trafficking, poultry and fish farming, plantation of medicinal trees, enhancement of allowances, presentation of arsenic affects, stipend of female students, making public examinations free from copying, rearing of goats, development of environment, prevention of AIDS, education and empowerment of women, sanitation etc. Local public representatives, government officials, women organizations and common villagers are being included in these programmes. Format of the programme is discussion meeting, subject oriented musical programme and film show.

4. Affixation and distribution of posters
Posters, leaflets and booklets received from Department of Films and Publications will be affixed and distributed down to grass root level.

5. Preparing Programmes
Films will be prepared on the basis of subject oriented song/opera from electronic media, field level activities and photographs. And these films will be screened through BTV and other TV Channels.

6. Conversion to VCD
For the purpose of exhibiting through multimedia of District Information Offices films mentioned in para-5 will be converted into 70 DVD and 70 VHS copies.

7. Meeting for exchange of views
In participation of media and local opinion leaders meeting on exchange the views on different development activities of government have been implemented. 60-70 representatives will be included in each programme.

8. Country wide publicity through group of artistes of headquarter
A 5 - member group of artistes, including 1 renowned singer/ vocalist, 1 Tabla player, 1 key-board player and 1 drum player have been formed centrally at Dhaka under the control of music section. They will be treated as enlisted guest artistes of Department of Mass Communication. This group is performing one development song every month.

Under the programme, during the last one year 10,752 film show, 17,278 folk song sessions, 7,040 street announcement, 400 discussion meetings, 42 exchange of views meetings have been arranged. Similar programmes are being arranged in the current fiscal year.

Zilla Unnayan Parikrama' (District development journal)
Publication of ' Zilla Unnayan Parikrama ' (District development journal) is one of most significant work done by the Department of Mass Communication. All the development activities of the government across the country and statistics of each and every district has been incorporated in the publication. Hon'ble Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia formally unveiled the cover of the publication at her office on 20 April 2006. Enthusiasm has been created among the people about the district wise publication. Transparency and accountability of the government has been ensured through the publication. Communication activities for raising awareness on HIV and AIDS among rural community people of six upazillas of six districts/divisions:

The Dept. of Mass Communication has started a new motivational programme on prevention of HIV and AIDS in six upazillas with the project assistance of UNICEF. The upazillas are Patuakhali sadar, Meherpur sadar, Khagrachari sadar, Hobigonj sadar, Thakurgong sadar and Netrokona sadar. So far 132 film show, 120 folk song sessions and 72 community meetings were arranged under the programme which started on 29 June, 2006. Concerned officials and staffs have been provided training on this issue at National Institute of Mass Communication. More film show, folksong session, community meeting and orientation of the officials will be arranged under the programme.