Strategic communication has shifted from its previous position as a helpful promoting tool, to an essential one. While its importance is continuously increasing for businesses to clearly communicate their values and purpose through strategic communication, this is also an invaluable tool for growth and success once utilized effectively. 

 

To combat the challenges of this century, there is no alternative of using effective communication process. When appropriate and effective communication process is followed to achieve a specific goal, there is more possibility of achieving that goal. Considering its immense benefit and effectiveness in producing results, Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs has been working in different social development sectors to bring a positive change following strategic communication process.

 

We express our commitment to continue the Strategic Communication efforts for social development in the future also.

After spending three long hours with a Community Policing Forum, Student Manager posted in Chittagong, Bangladesh – I had to take a moment to tell myself that the determination of the Student Leadership Development Program (SLDW) has actually seeped into the minds of this generation. The SLDW took place in Chittagong a year back. The Program generated a mass appeal and reached the souls of the youth to come together with the police and bring about needful changes in the society. Even after the program ended, the ex- student participants maintained a harmonious relationship with the police, the result of which was the establishment of a community policing forum. 

 

This forum would be the joining key of the public with the police. For instance, many youthful men and women want to take initiatives to aware people about the laws relating to eve teasing, involvement with drugs, indulging in extremist activities etc but it does not always get the execution it deserves because of lack of support from the local authorities. In order to help those individuals who actually think the society can be improved and refined, the community policing forum was established. After the forum came into force, people who wanted to take social initiatives could easily contact the forum, whereby active social leaders in the community and police representatives can render their support. If the police assistance is present, events move far more smoothly than without their support. People tend to take matters more seriously than before.

 

Recently, the ex-student and police participants gave their effort in organizing a huge rally to aware the people about the community policing forum and that it has been created to help bring about needful changes in the society. The rally was attended by an enormous crowd and the whole city was moved by its impact. Notions in relation to drug abuse were brought up and the crowd was requested to reject those people who offer drugs to the youth to ruin their future. Emphasis was given to take care of those who are addicted to drugs and how counselling and rehab facilities can prevent them from destruction. Some police participants voiced their opinion about how helpful such a forum can be for them. This forum can help people report crime far more easily than before and also help the police force with getting useful information during investigation of crimes. Along with vehemently saying “no” to drugs and requesting everybody to refrain from engaging in any extremist activities – the police representatives showed their gratitude to the SLDW Program and its organizers who gave birth to this unique bond between the students and the police force. 

 

BCCP hopes that the positive spell casted by SLDW on the youth of Chittagong will remain for many years and needful changes in the society can actually be seen taking place. 

SBCC approaches are to be linked-up with results for better program impact

- Mr. Asadul Islam, Secretary, Health Service Division, MoHFW

 

The first meeting of the National Steering Committee on the HPN SBCC Strategy implementation was held on May 05, 2019 in the MoHFW conference room chaired by Mr. Asadul Islam, Secretary, Health Service Division, MoHFW. As member of this committee the meeting among others was attended by Mr. Habibur Rahman Khan, Additional Secretary (PH & WH), Health Service Division, MoHFW; Mr. A K M Mohiul Islam (Population, FW and Law), Health Education and Family Welfare Division, MoHFW; Mr. Sushanta Kumar Saha, DG, NIPORT and Dr. Md. Shahnewaz, DG, BNNC. Relevant Line Directors of the units under DGFP and DGHS, representatives from the other ministries and development partners were also attended the meeting.

 

The meeting emphasizes the need of the Annual HPN SBCC Monitoring Report as a good mapping exercise to track extent, media trend and geographical concentration of SBCC approaches as has been undertaken and implemented by different GoB departments and NGOs. Mr. Asadul Islam, Secretary, Health Service Division, MoHFW underscored the importance of SBCC approaches for promotion and prevention of health services attaining a better program impact. He thanked USAID-Ujjiban SBCC project for their support in developing this report and mentioned the report as guiding document assessing the program results. 

 

A high-level leadership workshop titled ‘Leadership in Strategic Health Communication’ was held on April 28-30, 2019 in a hotel at Cox’s Bazar. Ministry and Unit level government officials and relevant departmental officials attended this 3-day course organized by USAID-Ujjiban SBCC project. A total of 26 officials in the categories of Additional Secretary, Joint Sectary, University Professor, Deputy Secretary, Line Director/Chief, HEB, Program Director, Sr. Asstt. Secretary/Deputy Director/Asstt. Director participated in the course.

 

The inaugural session of the workshop was attended by the Mr. Kazi A K M Mohiul Islam, Additional Secretary, MoHFW as Chairperson and Dr. Kazi Mustafa Sarwar, Director General, Family Planning as Chief Guest. Mr. Patrick L Coleman, COP, USAID-Ujjiban SBCC project and Mr. Mohammad Shahjahan, CEO, BCCP attended this session as Special Guest.

 

There were 10 formal session in the three-day workshop under four broad thematic area as; Strategic Leadership Mindset, Advocacy and Policy Change, Power of Coordination and Operational Effectiveness. In addition to Ujjiban, Mr. M M Reza former Secretary, MoHFW and Dr. A J Faisal, Advisor, Challenge TB also took part as session facilitator in the workshop sessions. At the outset of the formal workshop sessions participants provided with their individual understanding along with their experience and views about the Leadership in Strategic Health Communication. While at the end they have made their commitments on how they will go for exercising their leadership role to improve current situation with the understanding from this leadership workshop.