After an eventful journey of almost six decades and a half, Voice of America (VOA) on Tuesday made an heart-rending announcement -- it is ending its radio service in Bangla that served millions, especially in Bangladesh, and India’s West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.
According to a media release, no news or programs in Bangla would be heard from the radio station from July 18 as its FM and shortwave radio transmissions would officially end a day earlier.
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, reports Outlook India citing PTI.
“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 Acting VOA Programming Director John Lippman.
“VOA’s shortwave radio transmissions from outside the borders were a lifeline to the Bangla-speaking population for independent news and information,” John added.
While the service’s shortwave radio audience is now less than 1%, VOA Bangla social media audiences have grown significantly in recent years.
“Dozens of domestic television and radio stations compete for Bangla-speaking audiences, as well as an increasing number of digital sources,” John 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,” John said.
“VOA Bangla radio broadcasts have 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,” Satarupa said.
During the final days, 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.
