Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) and Cyclone

Relationships among key Stakeholders of Radio Broadcasting at the Coastal Area of Bangladesh

Abstract

Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) is an initiative used for risk reduction of the vulnerable community.The
safety of the coastal people living in 147 upazilas of 19 districts of Bangladesh is largely reliant on the disaster
messages broadcast through electronic media.The study evaluates the relationships among different
stakeholders involved in radio broadcasting of disaster messages at the coastal area and analyze their roles and
initiatives under SOD during cyclone. Eleven signals are used while broadcasting weather forecast in the
public, private and community radio broadcasting, available in the coastal region. Bangladesh Meteorological
Department prepares the messages of forecasting and warning. Though weather forecast is considered as the
key program broadcast through radio, many other programs related to cyclone and disaster management are
broadcast in radio at different stages of disaster. The study found that sharing of messages with the localities is
totally absent during the danger signal and great danger signal. Disaster broadcast policy in line with the SOD,
coordination among the stakeholders, message development and broadcast rescheduling are recommended to
ensure safety of the coastal people.