Ronnie Siraji

Radio, the latest hype in Bangladesh

The relationship with radio and the people of Bangladesh dates back to the pre liberation war era when Radio Pakistan used to broadcast its transmission in the region now known as Bangladesh, which was liberated on December 16, 1971. In those days the only source of entertainment was listening to the radio, which definitely was not by design though.

The broadcasting station “Shadheen Bangla Betar” reached its pinnacle during the 1971 liberation war being acclaimed as the stool pigeon of war news updates through ‘Chorom Potro’. During the war radio had played an important role like transmitting Sheikh Mujib’s important 7th March speech which set the journey toward the independence of Bangladesh.

But the post war broadcasting scenario was quite different. By then other entertainment options were available to the general public and radio transmission lost its charm especially on the city dwellers to its rivals like television and tape recorders. People were more inclined into having a wider choice rather than the limited offerings of the state owned radio. But radio was still famous in the rural areas. On those days movie promotions, advertisements of products necessary in day-to-day life, programs for family planning awareness, top songs from favorite movies, were the main attractions.

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