Radio broadcasts commenced in what is now known as Bangladesh in 1939 under British rule, as a part of All India Radio. The state-owned Bangladesh Betar monopolized the radio industry of the country until the launch of Radio Metrowave in 1999. 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. 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.

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 FM104.0 104.0Chapainawabganj 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. At present, there are 23 FM radio stations broadcast in Bangladesh, and 5 are temporarily closed.

Name FM frequencies (MHz)Activity Radio Foorti 88.0 Active Radio Aamar 88.4Dead ABC Radio 89.2Dead Radio Today 89.6Active DhakaFM 90.4Active Asian Radio 90.8Dead Radio Dhoni 91.2Dead Peoples Radio 91.6Active Radio Shadhin 92.4Active Radio Bhumi 92.8Active Radio Next 93.2Dead Radio Din Raat 93.6Active Radio Dhol 94.0Dead Jago FM 94.4Active Radio Capital FM 94.8Active Bangla Radio 95.2Active Radio Edge 95.6Dead City FM 96.0Dead Spice FM 96.4Active Radio Prime 96.8Dead Times Radio 97.2Dead Desh Radio 98.0Dead Radio Ekattor 98.4Active Radio City 99.6Dead BBC News 100.0Active Radio Active 100.4Dead Colours FM 101.6Dead Radio Amber 102.4Active Sufi FM 102.8Active

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. 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.

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

See also

List of television stations in Bangladesh Media of Bangladesh Telecommunications in Bangladesh

References