Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra

Report
HIS 103
Emergence of Bangladesh

Submitted To
Dr. Mahbubur Rahman

Submitted By
Sec : 7
Shoilee Roy 1431028630
Eva Sarker 1430090030
Delower Hossen 1610822030
Musfiqur Rahman Apu 1521653030
Jannat- Ul- Kawnine 1521896630
Tanvir Ahmed 1530012630
Date : 21 December,2019
Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 2
Background.............................................................................................................................. 2
FORMATION OF SWADHIN BANGLA BETAR KENDRO ............................................................. 3
Features of Swadhin Bangla Betar ......................................................................................... 4
Declaration of Independence ............................................................................................... 4
Performers ................................................................................................................................ 6
LEGACY AND CONCLUSION ................................................................................................... 8

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Introduction
The radio station Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra kept the spirit of the nation alive during the nine
months of the Liberation War of 1971. We don’t talk or share much about Shadhin Bangla Betar
Kendra but on the time of Liberation War they kept on going with the real news and giving hope
in the mind of the people of Bangladesh.

Background
The clandestine radio station, located in Kalurghat, north of the city of Chittagong, declared to the
world: "The Sheikh has declared the 75 million people of East Pakistan as citizens of the sovereign
independent Bangla Desh." The station called itself Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.
During the period of Liberation War of Bangladesh, Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra aired many
statements. Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra aired patriotic songs and talk shows to support the
emotional side of the people of Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh were supposed to be kept
in dark by the Pakistani Government and Radio Pakistan. But Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was
always posting updates about the Liberation War of Bangladesh and kept the hope alive in the
people’s heart.
Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra reached its pinnacle during the liberation war being acclaimed as
the stool pigeon of war news updates through 'Chorom Potro'. It used to have the present war news
and people was always waiting to hear them. Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was the voice of
information for Bangladeshi people. In the time of the war, the only media we had was the radio
and the only source of information.
Those who were on the battleground, the freedom fighters, also listened to different songs and
programmers broadcast on radio. It boosted up the morale of the fighters. Shadhin Bangla Betar
Kendra used to broadcast Bangla language programmes in the beginning. But later on they resorted
to produce in English and Urdu languages as well to battle against the misconception.\
Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was renamed Bangladesh Betar on 6 December 1971, when India
gave formal recognition to independent Bangladesh and its provisional government. The
Bangladesh government moved to Dhaka on 22 December 1971 and Bangladesh Betar started
broadcasting in independent Bangladesh on the same day.

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FORMATION OF SWADHIN BANGLA BETAR KENDRO
On 26 March 1971, the day after the Operation Searchlight crackdown, when the heartless mass
massacre by the Pakistani snoopers dove the country into misery and hopelessness, at that basic
point of history a voice was heard over Radio saying "SWADHIN BANGLA BIPLOBI
BETAR KENDRA THEKE AMI MAJOR ZIA BALCHHI". With that communicate the
whole country got back its certainty, boldness of conviction and solid hopefulness. It was all
conceivable due to the gallant activity taken by three youthful people Dr. Syed Anwar Ali,
Engineer Ashikul Islam and Engineer Dilip Chandra Das to begin with 10 KW transmitter.

From that point forward, during the entire time of Liberation War, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra
effectively completed its scholarly war like a composed front and disclosed devoted tunes which
significantly motivated the political dissidents in their persistent battle against the Pakistan-drove
occupation powers, war news and television shows to help up individuals' spirits. Toward the
evening of 26 March 1971 a wire containing the message of Sheik Mujibur Rahman came to one
Syed Anwar Ali through certain understudies in Chittagong.
The message was meant that Bengali by Dr. Syed Anwar Ali's wife Dr. Manjula Anwar. She
alongside Syed Anwar Ali, Kazi Hosne Ara and two WAPDA engineers Mr. Ashikul Islam and
Mr. Dilip Chandra Das so as to communicate that message chose to traverse the Kalurghat Bridge
to arrive at the neighborhood transmission focus constrained by the Bengali fighters of the eighth
East Bengal Regiment under Major Ziaur Rahman.
Bengali fighters protected the station as architects arranged for transmission. As contact couldn't
be set up between the political pioneers Major Ziaur Rahman was mentioned to communicate the
message. At 7:45 pm on 27 March 1971, Major Ziaur Rahman communicate the message which
got notable as the revelation of autonomy in the interest of Sheik Mujibur Rahman.

The Kalurghat Radio Station's transmission capacity was constrained. The message was gotten by
a Japanese ship in Bay of Bengal. It was then re-transmitted by Radio Australia and later by the
BBC. It ran for 5 days as Pakistan Air Force bombarded and harmed it on 30 March. Ten
establishing individuals separated into two gatherings and went to Agartala and Tripura with a 1
kilowatt transmitter. On 3 April they restarted the telecom from Bagapha of Tripura and later

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moved to Agartala. The name was changed to Bangladesh Betar on 6 December 1971 after India
offered acknowledgment to Bangladesh as a sovereign nation. Bangladesh Betar began
broadcasting in autonomous nation on 22 December 1971. With significant gratefulness the
country will consistently recall the administrations of those ten people who included Belal
Muhammad, Syed Abdus Shaker, Mustafa Monwar, Abdullah Al Faruque, Abul Quasem
Shandeep, Aminur Rahman, Rashedul Hossain, A.M. Sharfuzzaman, Kazi Habib Uddin Moni
and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury.

Features of Swadhin Bangla Betar

“Chorompotro” was the most popular program in Swadhin Bangla Betar hosted by M. R. Akhtar
Mukul. He used to define the sore situation of the Pak army in a funny voice. His dialogues were
made in the Old Dhaka language. The program was planned by Abdul Mannan.
Another popular program "Jallader Darbar". It was run by Kalyan Mitra. In this program
approaches of Yahya Khan as "Kella Fateh Khan" were described in a funny manner.
"Bojro Kontho" was also another program where the speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was
presented.
A group of young singers used to sing inspiring songs. Many poems and songs were written for
this broadcasting. One of those songs Joy Bangla Banglar Joy was the signature tune of the radio.
There were many other songs of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra like Purbo Digante Surjo
Uthechhe, Ekti Phoolke Bachabo Bole, Salam Salam Hajar Salam became hugely popular.
Singers of this station sang their songs in different parts of West Bengal. News broadcasts were
made in Bengali, English and Urdu.

Declaration of Independence
The last message from Dacca Betar Kendro was delivered by announcer Nazma Akhtar.
She declared:
"The 75 million people of Bangla Desh, freedom-loving as they are, have been subjected to brutal
genocide by the army.

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"The people of Bangla Desh will shed more blood rather than forget the injury. We will never
allow the sacrifice to go in vain."
Soon after the Pakistan army took over Dacca Betar Kendro in the early hours of March 26, 1971.
The Pakistanis renamed the radio station as "Radio Pakistan Dacca" and used it to announce
martial law orders. The Pakistan army’s attempt at silencing the voice of the Bengalis had begun.
Bengalis however fought back. The war of Bangladesh’s Liberation had begun.
In his message Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called upon the people to resist the occupation forces.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested on the night of 25–26 March 1971 at about 1:30 am. A
telegram containing the message of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was sent from Dhaka EPR wireless
to Silimpur wireless station around 11 am 25 March 1971. The asst Eng Golam Rabbani received
the message and transmitted the message to different places, including journalist and political
leaders in Chittagong. Then he tried to send the message to the foreign ships anchored at the bay
of Bengal. But none of them dare to receive the message. Pakistan Navy trace the message and
tried to create Jam on the transmission and finally threat to the foreign ships not to receive it.
However, The world press reports from late March 1971 also make clear that Bangladesh's
declaration of independence by Bangabandhu was widely reported throughout the world. The
telegram message reached to MR Siddiquee and Johur Ahmed Chy of AL. Early morning of 26
March, an instant decision made by some locals in Agrabad, M A Hannan have decided to
broadcast the message from Sheikh Mujib.

M A Hannan
In the afternoon they went to Kalurghat Radio Transmission to address the declaration. Some radio
Engineers was accompanied with him. First historical declaration was made at 2:10 pm 26 March
1971. This session was lasted only for 5–7 minutes and due to lower transmission quality not
clearly heard. In the late afternoon Syed Anwar Ali and others with the help from transmission
engineers took initiative to broadcast that message. Thus the declaration by Major Ziaur Rahman
came at 7:45 pm 27 March 197.
“This is Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. I, Major Ziaur Rahman, at the direction of Bangobondhu
Mujibur Rahman, hereby declare that Independent People's Republic of Bangladesh has been established.
At his direction, I have taken the command as the temporary Head of the Republic. In the name of Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, I call upon all Bengalees to rise against the attack by the West Pakistani Army. We
shall fight to the last to free our motherland. Victory is, by the Grace of Allah, ours. Joy Bangla.”

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This was the story of the birth of independent Bangladesh in a small room in the radio transmitter
centre at the industrial township, Kalurghat skirting Chittagong where Surya Sen with a handful
of revolutionaries had 40 years ago challenged the mighty British Government by armed attack on
its armoury. Major Zia's message was heard by a few sub-editors and reporters in news offices in
Dacca while tuning in different stations for news of their own country. Those days they were cut
off from free news circulation and were forced to bring out their papers with press notes and hand-
outs given by the Martial Law Authorities. Newspapers had no authority to use any news broadcast
by radio systems of countries other than Pakistan.Major Zia's message was picked up by a Japanese
ship anchored mid-stream in Chittagong harbour. When the news of this declaration was broadcast
by Radio Australia, the rest of the world came to know of it. Inside Bangladesh those who heard
Radio Australia passed on the news of the historic declaration in whispers to friends, neighbours
and strangers. Major Zia's call had immediate response; the EBR, EPR and the regular police forces
rose in revolt in every town and border outpost.The Pakistan Government authorities made futile
attempts to tell the people that the broadcast was made by a clandestine radio from a ship in the
mouth of river Hooghly in India. Islamabad even sent a note of protest also to New Delhi. The
strength of the Bengali revolutionary forces at Kalurghat went on swelling as people fleeing from
the besieged city of Chittagong collected there. The greatest contribution towards increasing the
strength came from the student community who drafted many for joining up and fought.

Major Ziaur Rahman

Performers
Apart from M.R. Akhtar Mukul, the other prominent performers of the Radio were:

Kamal Lohani - Head of the News

Rokeya Haider - News in English
Babul Akhtar - News in Bengali
Abdul Jabbar Khan - Director, Drama

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Ajit Roy - Music Director and composer
Shujeo Shyam - Music Director and singer
Apel Mahmud - Singer
Amitava Sengupta - Singer
Manjula Dasgupta - Singer
Abdul Jabbar - Singer
Mala Khan - Singer
Rupa Khan - Singer
Rafiqul Alam - Singer
Kaderi Kibria - Singer
Lucky Akhand - Singer
Jahangir Hayat Khan - Musician
Mohammad Shah - Recitation from Puthi (Bengali folk rhymes)
Nasimul Quader Chowdhury - News
Zahid Siddique - Head of Urdu News, Script, Kothika writer
Mihir Kumar Nandi - Singer
Sk. Foysal Islam - English News Reader, Bangladesh Betar, Khulna
Subhash Dutta
Timir Nandi - Singer
Fakir Alamgir - Singer
Sumita Devi

M.R. Akhtar Mukul Kamal Lohani

Abdul Jabbar Khan Ajit Roy Abdul Jabbar

Apel Mahmud Kaderi Kibria Lucky Akhand

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 Fakir Alamgir Mihir Kumar Nandi Timir Nandi

Sumita Devi Subhash Dutta Rafiqul Alam

The government on Tuesday 11th July,2017 awarded freedom fighter status to 58 more artistes of
Liberation War time radio centre Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra for their outstanding contribution
to the liberation war, reports BSS.

LEGACY AND CONCLUSION

After the war, on the 16th December 1971 the country earned its victory. The exile Mujibnagar
Government decided to return home on 22 December. The workers of Swadhin Bangla Betar
Kendro had been asked to return Dhaka and arranged live broadcast of the event opening the Dhaka
station. Accordingly a group comprising program producers and engineers returned home on the
same day and arranged the live commentary. The workers of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendro were
recruited in the radio according to their eligibility and desires. The Betar workers devoted
themselves in the development of the organization and nation building activities.
After the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on 15 August, 1975, in the morning, they
opened the station by started announcing the killing of Sheikh Mujib and also changed the name
of Bangladesh Betar to Radio Bangladesh. Since then the name of Bangladesh Betar remained
Radio Bangladesh till July 1996 when Awami League, the party which led the Liberation War in
1971, came to power after the general elections in 1996. Actually, officially the Bangladesh Betar
was the correct name of radio.
Considering the socio-economic condition of Bangladesh, although radio is the most effective
mass medium, its popularity declined during the last decade. The trend attributable to the
availability of TV sets to more number of people, especially in the rural areas. Besides,
monotonous programs of Bangladesh Betar, one-sided news, non-participation of common people,
excessive studio-based programs and disconnection from the people contributed to the decline.
The Media survey 2002 of Bangladesh Communication Programs revealed that the number of
listeners declined to 30 per cent in 2002 from 66 per cent in 1995.

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 We would like to give thanks to Mr. Mohini Mohan Chakrabarty, one of the
former member and performer of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra to give us time and information
which help us on this report and gain more knowledge about Bangladesh history.

Belal Muhammad

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