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
| Channel | Note(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 |
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 |
