Staff Correspondent: Around 6,68,000 population in Cox’s Bazar has become aware of using public infrastructure through a series of Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaigns.

In response to the pressing need for increased awareness and more effective use of government service facilities, the PSA campaign was initiated by the Bangladesh Centre for Communication Programs (BCCP) under the Emergency Multi-Sector Rohingya Crisis Response Project (EMCRP) supported by the World Bank and jointly implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE) and Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR).

These PSA campaigns were conducted by utilising a mobile van as a vibrant and interactive platform to connect with diverse communities in the Rohingya camp and host communities in Cox’s Bazar. The campaign carried a core message emphasising the importance of accessing public services responsibly and making informed use of the resources developed by the LGED under the EMCRP project.

PSAs were broadcast 56 times across various locations, including both the Host and Rohingya communities, across 8 Upazilas and 10 FDMN camps in Cox’s Bazar.

Upazila Engineer of LGED and Sub-Assistant Engineer of LGED in the host community, and Camp-in-Charge and Assistant Camp-in-Charge in the FDMN camps were present at the inaugural moments of all PSAs from their respective office premises.

BCCP launched the event from Upazila premises, and the respective Upazila Engineer of LGED inaugurated the event.

Speaking at the launch event at Ramu Upazila, Monzur Hossain Bhuiyan, Upazila Engineer of LGED, Ramu, emphasised the significance of the initiative.

He said, “Public infrastructure belongs to all of us. Every time someone damages a road, bridge or any other facilities, it’s the taxpayers who suffer. This campaign aims to change that mindset and instil a sense of shared ownership and responsibility”.

The Public Service Announcement (PSA) emphasises responsible use of government service facilities for both the host and Rohingya communities. It encourages the care of these facilities to ensure their sustainability.

The PSA was disseminated widely, including in Schools to instil responsible habits in the community. Effectiveness and audience reach were measured by a quick survey.

As per this survey, the PSAs covered 3,83,000 population in the host and 2,85,000 in the Rohingya camp, and it was a total population of 6,68,000 was reached by 56 PSA broadcasts.

EMCRP is a World Bank-supported project designed to serve both forcibly displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMN) and the host community in Cox’s Bazar. The Project activities include construction of internal roads, bridges, culverts, School-Cum-Cyclone shelter, a multi-purpose community and service centre, installation of Solar Street lights, installation of lighting protection systems, and construction of a hat bazar for the improvement of the lifestyle of the local people in Cox’s Bazar.

These developments have significantly improved accessibility, safety, and economic activity in the region. However, wear and damage due to misuse remain challenges that the PSA campaign seeks to address.

BCCP is providing Communication Awareness Service to the LGED under the EMCRP project to bring behavioural change among community people to use service facilities with care through various awareness-building activities.

These initiatives are part of this and were conducted these initiatives to encourage responsible use and proper maintenance of government-built infrastructures across Rohingya camps and host communities in Cox’s Bazar.

Through these initiatives, BCCP aims to foster a culture of respect, shared responsibility, and stewardship toward public infrastructures, ensuring that these vital assets continue to serve both refugees and host communities for the year to come.

The Public Service Announcement (PSA) focused on encouraging the responsible use of government service facilities. It emphasised the important role these services play in supporting both the host and Rohingya communities, urging everyone to treat them with care and respect to ensure their continued availability and sustainability.

To reach a wide audience, the PSA was shared across multiple platforms. A mobile PSA decorated CNG car travelled through camps and sub-districts in Cox’s Bazar, spreading the message directly within communities.

Special attention was given to schools and educational institutions, aiming to build responsible habits among young people from an early age.

The impact of the campaign will be measured through key indicators such as audience reach, community engagement, and feedback. Surveys and focus group discussions may also be conducted to assess how well the message was understood and received by the target audience.

The PSA campaign using a decorated CNG successfully raised awareness and encouraged responsible behaviour regarding the government service facilities. By utilising mobile outreach and community engagement, the campaign improved access to and utilisation of government services, benefiting the community.