After 63 years, VOA Bangla service to end radio broadcasts

Voice of America Bangla language service FM, MW and shortwave radio transmissions officially end on July 17, 2021, after 63 years of serving Bangladesh and the Bangla-speaking Indian states of West Bengal, Tripure and Assam. Simultaneously, the service's television and social media content will expand considerably, as these are platforms more heavily used by VOA Bangla's 16 million weekly audience members.

"When VOA Bangla launched in January 1958, Bangladesh was known as 'East Pakistan' and it was a territory under martial law with no television or private radio," said John Lippman, Acting VOA Programming Director. "VOA's shortwave radio transmissions from outside the borders were a lifeline to the Bangla-speaking population for independent news and information."

While the service's shortwave radio audience is now less than one percent, VOA Bangla social media audiences have grown significantly in recent years. Engagement actions on the Twitter account have risen 54% over the previous year, while video views on Instagram are up 274% in the same period.

"Dozens of domestic television and radio stations compete for Bangla-speaking audiences, as well as an increasing number of digital sources," Lippman noted. "As the demand for TV and online access to news in Bangladesh expands, VOA's Bangla service program offerings need to be on the platforms its audience already is most active."

"VOA Bangla radio broadcasts brought world events to its audiences since the days when radio was the primary news medium," Acting VOA Bangla Service Chief Satarupa Barua told staff this month. "It was a staple in our upbringing, a household name. We will build on that reputation, increasing our presence on media that is now far more heavily used than short wave and medium wave radio."

During the final days of its radio broadcasts, the service will broadcast retrospective programming, looking back at the changes in the country since 1958. "Because of our service's history in Bangladesh, working at VOA has been the 'dream job' for many of us. With the coming changes, it will continue to be," Barua added.

This change in radio programming will not affect broadcasts of "Lifeline", a 30-minute daily radio program in the Rohingya language, spoken by Muslim refugees in Bangladesh who fled ethnic violence in Myanmar. Produced by the Bangla service, the program launched in July 2019.

(Press Release)

VOA Bengali to be back on shortwave wef 5th June 2016

Anish Lalit of Voice of America Bengali department shares that VOA's Bengali transmission will be back on shortwave with effect from 5th June 2016 as per below schedule :

0000 - 0100 UTC (0530-0630 IST) on 6040 kHz from Udon Thani with Az 280 (Daily)

0300 - 0400 UTC (0830-0930 IST) on 7305 kHz from Udon Thani with Az 276 (Daily)

(Anish Lalit, VOA Bengali Department via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)

Voice of America's shortwave transmissions in Bnegali language was discontinued on 30th June 2014 and was available on a single mediumwave frequency.

Related :

VOA drops shortwave to Asian sub-continent

http://alokeshgupta.blogspot.in/2014/06/voa-drops-shortwave-to-asian-sub.html

VOA Bangla website : www.voabangla.com

Update : No transmission noted on 5th & 6th June 2016 as per times/frequencies mentioned above

VOA drops shortwave to Asian sub continent

Farewell VOA shortwave from June 30. Just announced cuts remove english language programs for Asia, many foreign language programs, and also affect Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty shortwave services. Services continue to Africa in English.

(Radio Heritage Foundation on facebook)

According to reports  :

- All shortwave frequencies will be eliminated for Voice of America English radio broadcasts to Asia, VOA English teaching programs, and VOA programs to Bangladesh by 30th June (Monday)

- All shortwave frequencies for the following services will also be eliminated: Azerbaijani, Bangla, English (Learning), Khmer, Kurdish, Lao and Uzbek. 

- Shortwave being used by services at RFE/RL and RFA are also being cut.

- BBG's proposed shortwave cuts for FY2014 have been approved by Congress.

Related :

Bureaucrats gave listeners little time to learn about shortwave cuts by VOA, RFA, and RFE/RL

http://bbgwatch.com/bbgwatch/bureaucrats-gave-listeners-little-time-to-learn-about-shortwave-cuts-by-voa-rfa-and-rferl/


USA   Voice of America to end shortwave broadcasts in English and several language services. From Mon June 30 all shortwave frequencies for English News programs to Asia will be eliminated. We will no longer be heard via shortwave in the morning 2200-0200 UTC and in the evening 1200-1600 UTC.

Shortwave frequencies for the following services will also be eliminated:

 

Azerbaijani

 

1730-1800 on  7435 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg to CeAs

1730-1800 on  9490 BIB 100 kW / 080 deg to CeAs

1730-1800 on 11985 SMG 250 kW / 073 deg to CeAs

 

Bangla

 

1600-1700 on  7475 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg to SoAs

1600-1700 on 11850 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg to SoAs

 

English

 

2200-2300 on  5895 IRA 250 kW / 065 deg to SEAs Sun-Thu

2200-2300 on  5915 UDO 250 kW / 018 deg to EaAs Sun-Thu

2200-2300 on  7480 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg to SoAs Sun-Thu

2200-2300 on  7575 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs Sun-Thu

2200-2300 on 12150 TIN 250 kW / 313 deg to EaAs Sun-Thu

2300-2400 on  5895 PHT 250 kW / 275 deg to SEAs

2300-2400 on  7480 UDO 250 kW / 018 deg to EaAs

2300-2400 on  7575 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs

2300-2400 on 12150 TIN 250 kW / 313 deg to EaAs

0100-0200 on  7425 KWT 250 kW / 082 deg to SoAs

0100-0200 on  9780 IRA 250 kW / 356 deg to SoAs

0100-0200 on 15205 UDO 250 kW / 292 deg to SoAs

1200-1300 on  7575 UDO 250 kW / 018 deg to EaAs

1200-1300 on  9510 PHT 250 kW / 283 deg to SEAs

1200-1300 on 12075 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to SEAs

1200-1300 on 12150 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to EaAs

1300-1400 on  7575 UDO 250 kW / 018 deg to EaAs Sat/Sun

1300-1400 on  9510 PHT 250 kW / 283 deg to SEAs Sat/Sun

1300-1400 on 12075 TIN 250 kW / 305 deg to EaAs Sat/Sun

1300-1400 on 12150 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to SEAs Sat/Sun

1400-1500 on  7575 UDO 250 kW / 268 deg to SoAs Mon-Fri

1400-1500 on 12110 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SoAs Mon-Fri

1400-1500 on 15490 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs Mon-Fri

1500-1600 on  7575 UDO 250 kW / 268 deg to SoAs

1500-1600 on 12110 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SoAs

1500-1600 on 15490 UDO 250 kW / 280 deg to SoAs 

 

English Learning

 

2230-2300 on  7460 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs

2230-2300 on  9570 UDO 250 kW / 018 deg to EaAs

2230-2300 on 11840 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to EaAs

2300-2400 on  7460 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs

2300-2400 on  9570 UDO 250 kW / 018 deg to EaAs

2300-2400 on 11840 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to EaAs

0030-0100 on  7425 KWT 250 kW / 082 deg to SoAs

0030-0100 on  9790 KWT 250 kW / 078 deg to SEAs

0030-0100 on 12015 UDO 250 kW / 030 deg to EaAs

0030-0100 on 12150 UDO 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs

0030-0100 on 15290 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to EaAs

0030-0100 on 17820 PHT 250 kW / 021 deg to EaAs

1500-1600 on  6140 UDO 250 kW / 284 deg to SoAs

1500-1600 on  7540 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SoAs

1500-1600 on  9400 PHT 250 kW / 349 deg to EaAs

  

Khmer

 

2200-2230 on  5905 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs

2200-2230 on  9320 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs

1330-1430 on 11695 IRA 250 kW / 073 deg to SEAs 

Kurdish

 

0500-0600 on 11995 SMG 250 kW / 114 deg to WeAs

0500-0600 on 15560 IRA 250 kW / 310 deg to WeAs

0500-0600 on 17870 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg to WeAs

1400-1500 on 15470 BOT 100 kW / 010 deg to WeAs

1400-1500 on 17870 IRA 250 kW / 299 deg to WeAs

1700-1800 on  7365 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg to WeAs

1700-1800 on  9850 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg to WeAs

1700-1800 on 11995 IRA 250 kW / 315 deg to WeAs

  

Lao

 

1230-1300 on 11965 PHT 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs

  

Uzbek

 

1500-1530 on 11810 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg to CeAs

1500-1530 on 11920 SMG 250 kW / 073 deg to CeAs

1500-1530 on 13650 UDO 250 kW / 316 deg to CeAs

1500-1530 on 17600 KWT 250 kW / 046 deg to CeAs

  

USA(non)   More and more cancelled broadcasts of IBB from July 1:

 

Radio Free Asia Lao, eliminated completely

 

0000-0100 on 15690 TIN 250 kW / 289 deg to SEAs

1100-1200 on  9325 SAI 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs

1100-1200 on 15120 TIN 250 kW / 279 deg to SEAs

 

Radio Free Asia Vietnamese, eliminated completely

 

1400-1500 on  9760 TIN 250 kW / 270 deg to SEAs

1400-1500 on 12130 TIN 250 kW / 280 deg to SEAs

1400-1500 on 13825 SAI 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs

2330-0030 on  9585 KWT 250 kW / 078 deg to SEAs

2330-0030 on 13835 SAI 100 kW / 285 deg to SEAs

2330-0030 on 15675 TIN 250 kW / 279 deg to SEAs

 

Radio Farda Persian

 

0030-0400 on  7280 NAU 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs

0930-1100 on 13860 LAM 100 kW / 108 deg to WeAs

1600-1700 on 15690 NAU 250 kW / 105 deg to WeAs

 

Voice of America Learning English, eliminated completely

 

0130-0200 on  9825 GB  250 kW / 172 deg to SoAm

1600-1700 on 11915 SAO 100 kW / 114 deg to CeAf

1600-1700 on 13570 BOT 100 kW / 350 deg to CeAf

1600-1700 on 17895 IRA 250 kW / 275 deg to CSAf

 

And some transmitter changes:

 

Radio Liberty Russian

 

1300-1400 on 13745 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu, ex WOF

 

Radio Liberty Belorussian

 

1600-1800 on  6105 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg to EaEu, ex NAU

 

Voice of America Portuguese

 

1630-1700 on 15720 BOT 100 kW / 350 deg to CSAf Fri, ex ISS

1800-1830 on 15720 IRA 250 kW / 255 deg to CSAf Mon-Fri, ex ISS

 

(Ivo Ivanov,Bulgaria)

VOA Bengali Frequency Change

1600-1700 UTC on 9940 kHz #PHT 250 kW / 283 deg to SoAs, ex 9340 VOA in Bangla

# co-ch FEBA Radio in Amharic and Guragena

(Ivo Ivanov, DX Mix News # 668)

Anis Ahmed of VOA Bengali gets VOA gold medal

Anis Ahmed of Voice of America Bengali Service has been awarded gold medal in recognition of his outstanding service to the promotion of Bengali language and culture.

http://www.bdnews24.com/details.php?cid=2&id=174902

VOA Listeners Meet at Kolkata

Photo's from Voice of America Benagli Service listeners meet at Kolkata on 17th March, 2010 courtesy Suvendu Das.

(Suvendu Das, Kolkata)

VOA Listeners meet at Kolkata

Voice of America Bengali service Listeners meet at Kolkata :

Date : 17th March 2010 (Wed)
Venue : USIS, Kolkata

Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury will be present at the meet.

(Siddhartha Bhattacharjee)

VOA is dropping Morning Bengali b'cast

With effect from 1st January 2010 VOA is dropping morning Bengali b'cast at 0130-0200 hrs on 11500 and 15205 kHz. Also plan to change the evening b'cast timings in line with the Day Light Saving Time in Bangladesh.

(Alok Dasgupta via DXAsia News)

New Frequency for VOA Bangla

from DXAsia News

From 1st October VOA Bangla service is moving on to 9320 kHz (to get good propagation) replacing 11835 kHz from Philippine relay at 1600-1700 hrs to South Asia and parallel 7260 kHz from Thailand relay continues. Currently this 9320 kHz is used by VOA Hindi which is due to close on 30th September 2008 -so the last chance of hearing VOA Hindi is on Tuesday 30th September at 1600-1700 hrs on 9320 and 7430 kHz.

(Alok Dasgupta, Kolkata, India)