Officials from Bangladesh Betar, the nation's oldest electronic mass media platform, have convened to discuss the potential revival of its Urdu service.
A Betar representative confirmed that the meeting took place last Thursday.
The meeting's announcement was posted on Bangladesh Betar's website at 11am on Thursday, with the notice having been uploaded the previous Wednesday evening.
When asked about the meeting's outcome on Thursday evening, Mohammad Salahuddin, the additional director general (programmes), said: "No final decision has been made yet. We cannot comment until a decision is reached. Once it is finalized, it will be approved by the director general and forwarded to the ministry before any formal announcement."
The meeting was arranged in response to an application submitted on September 10 by A Salam, representing the listed artistes, requesting the reactivation of the Urdu service at the Foreign Service Office.
The notice, signed by Betar Director Shahnaj Begum, confirmed that the additional director general had called the meeting for Thursday in response to this request.
Heads of departments, including program, engineering, and message branches, as well as unit leaders from headquarters and other centres in Dhaka, were asked to attend the meeting without delay.
According to Bangladesh Betar's website, its external services department currently broadcasts five hours of daily programming in Bengali, English, Arabic, Hindi, and Nepali.
These broadcasts are accessible via shortwave (4750 kHz, 63.16 metres), a mobile app, and the Betar website.
The purpose of these services is to enhance Bangladesh's global image, highlight the government's development initiatives, and showcase the country's history, heritage, and culture.
This specialized unit plays a crucial role in fostering cultural ties with other nations and in sharing Bangladesh’s story with expatriates and international listeners in the Middle East, Europe, and South Asia, serving as an audio ambassador for the nation.
