To
The Honorable Chancellor and other Ministers of Federal Government, Federal Republic of Germany
Deutsche Welle
Mr.
Erik Bettermann, Director General of Deutsche Welle, Germany
International
Relations
Mr.
Klaus Bergmann, Head of International Relations, Deutsche Welle.
Mr. Johannes Hoffmann, Head of
Corporate Communications and spokesperson, Deutsche Welle
Ms. Martina Bertram, Editor
Corporate Communications, Deutsche Welle
Mr. Grahame Lucas,
Head of South Asia and South-East Asia, Deutsche Welle
Head of Deutsche
Welle, Bengali Service, Germany
General Management
Mr. Ansgar Burghof, Head
of General Management, Deutsche Welle.
Ms Ute Schaeffer, Editor-in-Chief
for Regionalized Content, Deutsche Welle
Mr. Christian Gramsch,
Director of Regionalized Content, Deutsche Welle
Mr. Dr. Reinhard
Hartstein, Administrative Director, Deutsche Welle
Broadcasting Board, Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Valentin
Schmidt, Chairman, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Wolfgang
Börnsen, Deputy Chairman, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Fritz
Rudolf Körper, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Günter
Nooke, member, the
Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Hans-Jürgen
Beerfeltz, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Günter
Winands, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Ms. Dr.
Kerstin Kießler, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Johann-Adolf
Cohausz, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Dr. Karl
Jüsten, member, the
Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Ms. Vera
Szackamer, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Dr.
Michael Vesper, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Dr.
Sebastian Paust, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Ms. Inez
Kühn, member, the
Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr.
Dr. Klaus Reichert, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche
Welle, Germany
Mr. Christian
Höppner, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Dr.
Hans-Uwe Erichsen, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Ms. Ute
Brüssel, member, the Broadcasting Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Administrative Board, Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Peter
Clever, Chairman, Administrative Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Helmut
Stahl, Deputy Chairman, Administrative Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Ms.
Prof. Dr. Claudia Mast, member, Administrative Board
of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Reinhard
Grindel, member, Administrative Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Michael
Georg Link, member, Administrative Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr. Herzs
Krymalowski, member, Administrative Board of Deutsche Welle, Germany
Mr.
Frank Stöhr, member, Administrative Board of
Deutsche Welle, Germany
Subject : Please “Save Deutsche Welle Bengali Service” from elimination
Her Excellency and Honorable sir
and madam,
With due respect and honor this is
to inform you that from March 10, 2013, with closing the FM broadcasting, Deutsche
Welle Radio’s Bengali service would be completely erase from the radio world.
In an statement by Deutsche Welle’s
South Asia and South-East Asia head Mr. Grahame Lucas mentioned that after a long
discussion and thinking, Deutsche Welle authority has decided to stop FM
broadcasting in Bangladesh. He also said “an agreement with
Bangladesh Betar, we had aired two 30-minutes program on FM in Dhaka as well as other five major
cities in Bangladesh. The agreement period with Bangladesh Betar will expired
on March 9, 2013 and immediately DW FM service would be closed”.
Instead of presently aired 420
minutes radio program of DW Bengali service, there will be a weekly television
show 'exploration' from April 16, 2013 via its partner in Bangladesh, Ekushey Television.
Mr. Lucas also acknowledged that ‘It was really our pride to air FM service in
Bangladesh and the two transmissions on FM is successful….. .. on the other
hand it can’t be denied that the media environment is changing fast. We are
entering more new and modern era of technology. So like other international
media organization, we should be more developed, especially the changing media landscape
in Bangladesh”
In continuation of Mr. Lucas words I would like to add that, if DW Bengali service is successful in Bangladesh, why you stop this service? This is something self-opposition, isn’t?
Yes, of course, we are now faced with a wave of changes within
the media environment. With vast technological advances in telecommunications,
we now exist in a multi-media age, in which the integration of media and
communications has eliminated per-existing media boundaries. But it does not mean to introduce only a weekly TV show by replacing the 37-years long
history of DW Bengali radio service. Would it be possible to enter the
multi-media era in this way? DW authorities may be thinking so!
Since 37 years, Deutsche Welle Bengali
service relentlessly aired for over 25 million Bengali peoples, who can tune both
on FM as well as online (previously Short wave and Medium Wave also). And the
real fact is, most of the DW listeners are living in rural places or villages,
where cable-connected Television, even in some areas electricity is inadequate.
Will these hundreds of millions of people be able to access DW’s so-called
developed media a ‘Weekly TV show’? Certainly not, so who are your target audiences
for this newly TV show instead of Radio Program?
It seems that DW authorities are ignoring the real matter, the necessity and importance of radio. But radio with its unique styles has already returned back on the front line. Is it not visible to DW authorities?
To realize the importance or radio,
the UNESCO has proclaimed 13 February the ‘World Radio Day’. Just a few days
earlier, tens of thousands of radio broadcaster around the world and millions
of radio listeners, fans, civil societies have celebrated the 2nd ‘World
Radio Day’ with high enthusiasm. On this occasion United Nations Secretary
General Mr. Ban Ki-moon messaged. In his message he stated that “Since its invention more than 100
years ago, radio has sparked the imagination, opened doors for change, and
served as a channel for life-saving information. Radio entertains, educates,
and informs. It promotes democratic expression and influences
ideas. From short-wave to FM to satellite transmission – radio connects
people wherever they are. In conflict situations and times of crisis,
radio is a lifeline for vulnerable communities. Radio is both valuable and
cost-effective. From day one, the United Nations has been using radio to
reach the peoples of the world. …We are proud of our rich history of radio
production in many languages, and the innovative ways we use radio to inform
and serve the world. On this World Radio Day, let us celebrate the power of
radio and let us work together to tune the world to the frequency of peace,
development and human rights for all”
UNESCO Director General Ms. Irina Bokova also messaged. In her message she mentioned
UNESCO Director General Ms. Irina Bokova also messaged. In her message she mentioned
“World Radio Day celebrates a medium that has transformed the way we communicate and that remains at the forefront of the 21st century. ….. The birth of radio in the 19th century ushered in the era of modern communication. … It remains widely accessible, relatively cheap and very simple to use. It is still the medium that can carry any message to any place at any time – even without electricity. In situations of conflict and natural disaster, shortwave radio provides a lifeline of information that can save lives. …..In a world changing quickly, UNESCO is committed to harnessing the full power of radio to build bridges of understanding between peoples, to share information as widely as possible and to deepen respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially freedom of expression. ….. UNESCO is also determined to make full use of community radio to address poverty and social exclusion at the local level and to empower marginalized rural groups, young people and women. Radio is a key platform for education and for protecting local cultures and languages. It is also a powerful way to amplify the voices of young people around the world on issues that affect their lives. We must bolster their skills and give them opportunities to engage fully with radio”.
However, at this time Deutsche Welle’s announcement of closing Bengali Radio service is totally unexpected and I think immature decision.
Our heartfelt appeal and request to the honorable German govt. and the Deutsche Welle authority please ‘Save DW Bengali Service’ from eliminating. Please rethink your decision and continue the DW Bengali Radio Service. You know, we have earned our Bengali language on 21st February 1952 by the Martyr Salam, Rafique, Barkat as well as so many others who sacrificed their lives and blood for Bengali language, which is now recognized internationally. To respect our Bengali language and those Martyrs who fight for Bengali, UNESCO proclaimed 21 February is the “International Mother Language Day”, which observed globally each year. Our benevolent request, please continue to air DW’s Bengali radio service in which we the 25 million Bengali people can tune DW in our mother languages ‘BANGLA’.
Kindest regards,
Yours truly,
On behalf of DW Bengali Listener
MD. AZIZUL ALAM AL-AMIN
BANGLADESH
e-mail: alamin@librabd.net
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