BBC Bangla six-city interactive bus tour promotes FM programming in Bangladesh

BBC World Service will directly connect with audiences in six cities in Bangladesh in a special interactive campaign. From today, Tuesday 11 November, a BBC Bangla-branded bus starts from Khulna to travel to Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Comilla and Chittagong - where the BBC broadcasts on FM frequencies - inviting audiences to "speak up" and share their views on issues important to them. The discussions will be broadcast on BBC Bangla FM frequencies across Bangladesh. In each of the six cities, BBC journalists will also engage residents at bus stops and tea stalls in conversations and mini-interviews which will also be integrated in the programming to be aired on BBC Bangla. As Bangladesh is moving towards a general election, BBC Bangla will bring views from the voters, plans and commitments from the prospective candidates and the fervour of political campaigning and debates. The BBC Bangla editorial initiative promotes its programming on FM in Bangladesh. It will be supported by a two-month mass media campaign which includes radio and print advertisements. Nazes Afroz, Executive Editor, South Asia, BBC World Service, says: "Bangladesh is an extremely important country for the BBC. We also have millions of dedicated listeners who have been listening to BBC Bangla for generations, and they have always valued the impartial and objective journalism of the BBC. "We are absolutely delighted that we are bringing these special programmes from BBC Bangla to listeners on our new FM network. This will help us to connect even better with our audiences and to get valuable feedback from them." BBC Bangla comes to audiences in Bangladesh in four half-hour editions: Provati (early morning), Pratyusha (morning), Prabaho (evening) and Parikrama (late evening). Broadcast from 6.30am Dhaka Time, Provati sets the day's news agenda and offers interviews with key players on various issues. Pratyusha, broadcast from 7.30am from the BBC's Dhaka studio, includes a newspaper review and analysis of news and current affairs. Prabaho, broadcast from 7.30pm, brings major news reports from Bangladesh and across the world, news analysis and interviews. On Saturdays, Prabaho includes a live phone-in programme. Aired from 10.30pm, Parikrama is a roundup of the day's international news stories and analysis. On Mondays, Parikrama includes a phone-in programme while sports and science become the focus of specific programmes during the week. BBC Bangla is available on 101.2 FM in Comilla, 102 FM in Khulna, 105.4 FM in Chittagong, 105 FM in Rajashahi, 105.4 FM in Rangpur and 105 FM in Sylhut. The BBC also broadcasts on 100 FM in Dhaka.

(BBC World Service Press Office)