World Radio Day today

City Desk :
The World Radio Day-2023, a day to celebrate radio as a medium, will be observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe today highlighting the importance of radio for ensuring free flow of information.
This year’s theme of the day is ‘Radio and Peace’.
On the eve of the day, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages greeting all concerned, including officers, employees, technicians and audience of the Bangladesh Betar and wishing all programmes of the day a success, reports BSS.
In his message, the President said Bangladesh Betar is the traditional mass media in the country.
In 1971, Bangladesh Betar created public opinion and inspired freedom fighters by broadcasting various programmes in favor of the country’s independence during the Great Liberation War, the head of the state added.
After the country’s post-independence period, Bangladesh has been making effective contributions in creating awareness on various issues including education, health, women’s empowerment, and prevention of child marriage, abuse of women, terrorism, rumors and militancy, warning of dengue, corona pandemic and natural disasters, he said.
Hamid hoped that being imbued with the spirit of the liberation war, Bangladesh Betar will continue its relentless efforts to accelerate the overall development activities of the government through the involvement of the people.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, termed this year’s theme of the day- ‘Radio and Peace’ – as time befitting due to Russia- Ukraine war.
Since its inception on December 16 in 1939, Bangladesh Betar has been playing a significant role as the strongest medium, she said, adding, “It also played an important role during our War of Liberation in 1971”.
“Broadcasting the historic 7 March Speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on March 8 ignoring the restriction of the then autocratic rulers, Bangladesh Betar was always with the people in encouraging people during Liberation War in achieving the Independence,” she added.  
Awami League-led government believes in freedom of media, the premier said, adding that during the period of 1996-2001, the then ruling government allowed the first satellite private television to launch in the country.
Besides, the Right to Information Act, 2009 has been enacted to ensure the right to information, she said.
The government also formulated National Broadcast Policy 2014, she said, adding that a number of television channels, FM radio and community radio have been licensed in the private sector.
With the launch of ‘Bangabandhu Satellite-1’, audio, visual and electronic communication has reached a new level, she said, adding that hence, the media of the country now is enjoying full freedom.
Bangladesh Betar’s role in protecting democratic rights, ensuring free flow of information, bringing diversity and increasing people’s involvement in the overall development of the country is commendable, she mentioned.
Besides, the use of modern technology, accurate objective news and information dissemination and creative programmes are constantly taking the radio to maximum audiences, the premier said.
The Awami League-led government is working tirelessly to deliver the benefits of independence of the country to the doorsteps of the people, she added.
Sheikh Hasina hoped that Bangladesh Betar will continue to inform the people about the ongoing comprehensive development activities of the government.
Being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War, the premier hoped, it will continue to make relentless efforts to build ‘Smart Bangladesh’ and ‘Golden Bangladesh’ as dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.