List of radio stations in Bangladesh

Radio broadcasts commenced in what is now known as Bangladesh in 1939 under British rule, as a part of All India Radio.[1] The state-owned Bangladesh Betar monopolized the radio industry of the country until the launch of Radio Metrowave in 1999.[1] The first FM radio station in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Betar Traffic Broadcasting, commenced transmissions in 2005, and the first privately owned FM radio station, Radio Today, commenced transmissions in 2006. There are currently 25 privately owned FM radio stations on the air in Bangladesh.[2] This is a list of radio stations that are legally permitted by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission.

State-owned radio stations
ChannelNote(s)
Bangladesh Betar (বাংলাদেশ বেতার)A state-owned radio broadcasting station of Bangladesh, headquartered in Agargaon Sher e Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Betar was established during the War of Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. It was also known as Shwadin Bangla and Betar Kendra. Post independence of Bangladesh, it was named as Bangladesh Betar. In 1975 after the coup d'état the rebels renamed it as "Radio Bangladesh" and so it continued up until 1996 where it returned to its original name Bangladesh Betar when Bangladesh Awami League came into power in 1996.[3]

State-owned FM radio stations

This list is for state-owned FM radio stations only.

Name Frequencies (MHz) Area served
Bangladesh Betar Traffic Broadcasting 88.8 MHz Dhaka
FM91.60 91.60
FM92.0 92.0 Thakurgaon
FM97.6 97.6
FM100.0 100.0
FM100.8 100.8 Cox's Bazar
FM101.2 101.2
FM102.0 102.0
FM103.2 103.2
FM103.6 103.6
FM104.0 104.0 Chapainawabganj
FM105.2 105.2
FM105.6 105.6
FM106.0 106.0

Privately owned radio stations

As of 2019, the Ministry of Information had licensed 28 private organizations for FM broadcasting, and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission had assigned FM broadcasting spectrum to them.[4]

Name FM frequencies (MHz)
Radio Foorti 88.0 [5]
Radio Aamar 88.4
ABC Radio 89.2
Radio Today 89.6
DhakaFM 90.4
Asian Radio 90.8
Radio Dhoni 91.2
Peoples Radio 91.6
Radio Shadhin 92.4
Radio Bhumi 92.8[6]
Radio Next 93.2
Radio Din Raat 93.6[7]
Radio Dhol 94.0
Jago FM 94.4
Radio Capital FM 94.8
Bangla Radio 95.2
Radio Edge 95.6
City FM 96.0
Spice FM 96.4[8]
Radio Prime 96.8
Times Radio 97.2[9]
Desh Radio 98.0
Radio Ekattor 98.4
Radio City 99.6
Radio Active 100.4
Colours FM 101.6
Radio Amber 102.4
Sufi FM 102.8
Radio Sixteen SR

Community radio

The Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, considers community radio a special area for intervention. BNNRC has been promoting advocacy to the government in relation to community radio with other organizations since its emergence in 2000.[10] As a result, The Ministry of Information of the People's Republic of Bangladesh announced the Community Radio Installation, Broadcast and Operation Policy 2008. Under this policy, The Ministry of Information approved 19 community radio stations for the first time in Bangladeshi history. To ensure the free flow of information to the people, the government enacted the Right to Information Act 2009.[11]

Initially, the government approved 19 community groups:

Name Area served Frequencies (FM)
Radio Meghna COAST Trust, Chorfasson, Bhola Island (Bhola District) 99.0
Radio Bikrampur EC Bangladesh (Munshiganj) 99.2
Chilmari Kurigram 99.2
Radio Jhinuk Srizoni (Jhinaidhah) 99.2
Radio Mukti Bogra 99.2
Borendro Radio Ukilpara, Naogaon 99.2
Radio Naf Teknaf, Cox's Bazar 99.2
Radio Saikat Kolatoli, Sadur, Cox's Bazar 99.0
Radio Nalta Nalta Community Hospital in Satkhira 99.2
Lokobetar Barguna Sadar Upazila 99.2
Radio Padma Rajshahi 99.2
Pollikontho Moulivi Bazer 99.2
Radio Mahananda Chapai Nababgonj 98.8
Krishi Radio Amtoli, Barguna District 98.8
Radio Sagor Dwip DUS Hatiya Island - Noakhali District 99.2
Sagor Giri Sitakunda, Chittagong 99.2
Sarabela Radhakrishnapur College Road, Gaibandha 98.8
Radio Boral Bagha, Rajshahi 99.0
Radio Sundarban Dakop Upazila - Khulna District 98.8

See also

References
  1. Banerjee, Indrajit; Logan, Stephen (2008). Asian Communication Handbook 2008. Asian Media Information and Communication Centre. p. 107. ISBN 978-9814136105.
  2. কেন দাঁড়াতে পারল না এফএম রেডিও. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 13 February 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  3. Rahman, Urmi; Smart!, Culture (1 December 2014). Bangladesh - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture. Kuperard. ISBN 978-1-85733-696-2.
  4. "Annual Report 2018-2019" (PDF). Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission. February 2016.
  5. "Radio Foorti celebrates a decade in the industry". Dhaka Tribune. 27 September 2016.
  6. "bhumi".
  7. "একজন স্যামসন এইচ চৌধুরী". 2 March 2016.
  8. Staff Correspondent. "City FM 96.00 launched". bdnews24.com.
  9. Lawson, Mark (29 June 2020). "Rupert's radio: can Murdoch's Times Radio compete with the BBC?". The Guardian.
  10. Freedman, Eric; Goodman, Robyn S.; Steyn, Elanie (11 May 2018). Critical Perspectives on Journalistic Beliefs and Actions: Global Experiences. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-66436-3.
  11. Malik, Kanchan K.; Pavarala, Vinod (9 June 2020). Community Radio in South Asia: Reclaiming the Airwaves. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-09197-7.
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