Radio Sarabela 98.8 fm won the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) 2017 award on radio news category for investigative reporting on Child Raping and Its Psycho-social Situation; and the Right to Information (RTI) Award 2017 from Ministry of Information, Government of Bangladesh. Alongside, Radio Sarabela news & programs were nominated in 5 categories in radio reporting category and finally received 3 prize on the UNICEF’s Meena Media Award 2017.
A Study covering the students, housewives, businessmen, service holders, labors, farmers and other professionals shows that the Radio Sarabela is satisfying 92% of the respondents’ information demand; 91% respondents have easy access to the Radio for sharing their opinion/comments through digital devices while 97% enjoy the programs and news of Radio Sarabela. As many as 51% respondents are happy as programs & messages of Sarabela are bringing positive changes in agriculture, disaster preparedness & WASH, and reducing domestic violence, etc. Local youths have got a platform to show their talents and creativity working with the Station as volunteer while Radio Sarabela is providing the youths with opportunity to be the change agent in the society.
Radio Sarabela hosted a Community Radio Hackathon on Protecting Violent Extremism with participation of all the community radios in Bangladesh. The Hackathon took place at SKS Inn, Gaibandha. The Station Managers, Broadcasters & Producers of 17 community radios in Bangladesh participated in the 3-day event.
During emergency especially flood situations, Radio Sarabela keeps its 24-hour focus to make the vulnerable people and the duty bearers alert on the running situation and the services required. Radio Sarabela continues with 24-hour disaster update, live helpline, shelter-related news, PSA, community demands, response activities, GO & NGO services and other relevant information until the disaster ends.
The students, farmers, teachers, girls & women, workers, businessmen, youths, boatmen, fisher-folks, government officials and children are the main listeners of Radio Sarabela. Thus, presently the Radio Sarabela covers around 1 million population of Gaibandha district.