a. Betar signs agreement with CRI

Bangladesh Betar and China Radio International (CRI) signed an agreement on May 17, 2010 . Under this three year tenure agreement, Bangladesh Bater will re-broadcast CRI Bangla program everyday at 18:30 to 19:30 (BST) in FM transmitter on 103.2 MHz in Dhaka and 105.4 MHz FM in Chittagong simultaneously. English program of CRI will also be re-broadcast everyday at 17:30 to 18:30 (BST) from Dhaka station only in the same frequency (103.2 MHz). For the re-broadcast service, Bangladesh Betar will earn about US$ 50,000.00 annually. CRI will also provide technical assistance to Bangladesh Betar. CRI will also extend training facilities for employees of Bangladesh Betar.

Md. Mahbubul Alam, DG Bangladesh Betar and Mr. Wang Yu, Political Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Dhaka signed the agreement. High officials of Ministry of Information and Bangladesh Betar were present on the occasion.

b. Prime minister inaugurates 1000-kilowatt MW transmitter of Bangladesh Betar at Dhamrai

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally launched 1000- Kilowatt MW transmitter of the Bangladesh Betar by pressing a button at the Super power Transmission Centre, Dhamrai near Dhaka on December 09, 2009 . She was talking to local people in a video conference after inaugurating the newly installed 1000-kilowatt medium-wave transmitter. The prime minister understand the need for building a science and technology based modern Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty by implementing the "Vision 2021". The Prime Minister said her government, after assuming office through a free, fair and credible election on December 29, is working relentlessly to build a self-reliant Bangladesh through implementing it election pledge. She said apart from bringing down the prices of essential commodities, her government has undertaken various programmes for self-employment of the country's young generation.

Information Secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury briefed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about the transmitter, its utility and on the whole of the installation project. Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, members of parliament, high officials of Bangladesh Betar including Md. Mahbubul Alam, DG, Bangladesh Betar and a large number of local people were present on the occasion.

Project in a brief:

• The project ended in June 2009.
• To strengthen the MW radio broadcasting of Bangladesh Betar, Dhaka by replacing the 36 year-worn out valve type 1000KW Medium Wave(MW) transmitter by a new solid-state 1000KW MW transmitter.
• Efficiency of the new transmitter will be much better than the existing one. 95% area of the country will be covered by this high quality transmitter.
• The new transmitter has the energy saving provisions which will be helpful to avoid huge electricity consumption.
• The new modern solid -state transmitter is compatible to future DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) broadcast.
• A generator of 1500KVA is included to meet power failures.
• Cost (revised) about 350 million (BDT) .

c. Bangladesh Betar Summer Programme Schedule

Bangladesh Betar has rescheduled its summer programme as schedule mentioned below:

•  The morning programme will start from 06-30 am and will continue up to 10-30 am instead of closing down at 10-00 am from the regional stations Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur. Both AM and FM transmission will follow the new schedule.

•  For Dhaka station afternoon transmission will start from 02-00pm instead of 02-30pm.

•  Midnight transmission of Dhaka Kha will be broadcast from 630KHz AM Band and 100MHz FM Band from 12-00 midnight to 03-00am. Besides this, world music programme transmitting from 100MHz FM Band at 03-05pm daily, will be re-broadcast from the same band from 11-05pm to 12-00pm .