This is my presentation paper for How Development communication to create awareness against Corona.
Here I described the rule of some elements of development communication to create awareness the rural people in Bangladesh.
So let's check...
What is Development Communication?
The word 'Development Communication' reffers two words 'development ' and 'communication'.
Here communication means the exchange of information and experience to accelerate development work.
This development can be social change as well as economic change.
So the full defination of development communication is the use of communication process in the overall transformation of a society.
What's the rule of development communication over Corona?
On December 31, 2019, an invisible enemy was first identified in Wuhan Province China.
Then, at the earliest, the virus began to spread to every corner of the globe. Human life began to come to a halt.
In this consequences, the first case of corona was identified in Bangladesh last 8 March.
As a result General holidays are declared in the country. People were stuck at home.
On the other hand, From city to village, there is confusion among the common people about Corona.
This confusion is further exacerbated by human unconsciousness, lack of proper knowledge about corona.
So development communication comes forward to overcome the various problems created in this situation.
Language, social media, folk media are the three specific elements I choose to use development communication in the context of Corona.
Each of these is discussed below:
Language: Language is a big adjunct of development communication.
In under developed country like Bangladesh, People who live in remote rural areas or less educated people in urban areas will not understand phrases related to corona such as quarantine, isolation, vaccine, social distance etc.
In this circumstances, Regional or local languages are much more effective than the standard language of radio and TV in explaining to them these words related to corona as well as the health rules of it.
And in this way, I think the application of local languages will play a role in development communication.
Social Media: Though Bangladesh is a developing country but the development of information technology, smartphones are now in the hands of everyone from cities to villages all over Bangladesh.
Besides, with the availability of internet, almost everyone is now using social media, especially Facebook.
According to a report published in the English daily Daily Star on December 30, 2019, based on the data of digital research institute Napoleoncut, the number of active Facebook users in Bangladesh till last January is 33.7 million.
It is seen that a large number of people are using Facebook in Bangladesh.
So Facebook can play an important role in development communication in the context of Corona.
How do I use Facebook in this context?
I utilize the usage of facebook for creating various content of corona related awareness.
This content can be videography, various digital banners, posters, etc.
I will promote this content on my own Facebook profile or in any online media.
Besides, the farmers in the rural areas are suffering due to the inability to reach the market for the limited movement of people during the Corona period.
I will use Facebook to stand by these affected farmers, that is to sell their products.
Using own Facebook's networking, I will deliver farmer's products to the city by using home delivery system.
As a result there will be a relationship between farmers in marginalized areas and city buyers easily.
Which will play a role in the economic development of rural farmers.
Folk Media: Folk media can play a more important role in corona related development communication.
Folk media includes Waz Mahfil ( Muslim's religious gathering), various Folk Music, theatre drama, street drama etc.
Since it is risky to hold a public meeting during corona time.
Therefore, we will not use these mediums directly in development communication but we will use these mediums in the corona awareness of the people concerned.
Such as the imam ( the Muslim leader) of a mosque or the priest of a temple.
The common people of Bangladesh respect their religious leaders more than the instructions of the administration or the government.
As a result, if these religious leaders can be properly applied in creating corona awareness, it will play an effective role in creating corona awareness.
For example, if there are five mosques in an area, a committee will be formed with the imams of those five mosques as well as local leaders.
Here the Imams will formulate an awareness procedure after discussions with the leading persons, Which will be discussed for the purpose of the worshipers at the end of the daily prayers at the social distance in the mosque.
He will also use the microphone of the mosque to inform the general public about the health rules of Corona before Azan ( declaration of muslim prayer ) every day.
I believe that using these mediums in development communication in the context of Corona can play a role in creating Corona awareness.
