The Final Moments Of BBC Bangla On Radio

As announced,BBC Bangla ended its radio transmission on December 31st of 2022.I listened to their both shortwave transmissions evening & night on all  the  frequencies on that day alternatively.More about BBC Bangla's final a few days transmissions including the last day sometime in future here in this platform.

Here are the audio recording of  closing moments of BBC Bangla on December 31st:

First link of the evening transmission around 1358utc on 11750kHz:

https://app.box.com/s/dtu095flxouype0r9un6gjfnod4uufpe

And the 2nd link the audio recording of night transmission..the last moments of BBC Bangla on radio around 1658utc on 9585kHz:

https://app.box.com/s/jyplhn6pbf4ff40slxbfkz6r2zdlsyge

Bye Bye BBC Bangla On Radio...

See You from time to time on bbcbangla.com, youtube etc in digital platform only..

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

New Horizon BC Bands Monitoring Bulletin Year Ending Special

Radio Japan NHK World Bengali Hindi Urdu Reception Update:

There has been very poor to barely audible signal of Radio Japan HNK World in Bengali & Hindi Service transmission for several weeks now on 11610kHz during 1500-1530utc and 1530-1550utc respectively.

And have not monitored yet sufficiently the transmission of Radio Japan Urdu on 11620kHz (via Yamata-Japan,300kW) during 1600-1620utc for weeks.But on random check sometimes during the beginning period,the signal strength has been very weak.

Station KNLS Alaska English via Madagascar World Voice(MWV):

During my recent monitoring .it is now broadcasting on 13760kHz from 0200-0258utc and again with repeat from 0300-0356utc on the same frequency.And their usual signing off annoucement at the end also mentions about this schedule.The reception overall has been good with slightly noisy sometimes and also slight co-channel interference sometimes.

BBC Bangla The Final Count down On Radio:

BBC Bangla is ending its radio transmission on December 31st this year.And now they are broadcasting interviews with famous personalities of India and Bangladesh from their archive.On this series a few days back i.e. on December 23rd ,from 1344utc onwards on 11750kHz (during 1330-1400utc transmission) , heard an interview (parts of the interview) recorded in 1977(in London) with "Sudhakantha" Bhupen Hazarika.Shyamal Lodh interviewed HIM.I heard about the interview of BBC Bangla in a book of Bhupen Hazarika.I thought it will not be able to listen it in my life time.But not only I got a chance but recorded it on air that evening.A dream realised.I will upload it later on my blog.

BBC Bangla has put the inteview on their youtube channel too besides other interviews.

You can also listen to it.

 Here is the link:

 https://youtu.be/4lYYVt80-2c

I have already heard interview of late Jyoti Basu ,then Chief Minister of West Bengal,who was interviewed in 1984 during his visit to UK.He was also interviewed by Shyamal Lodh.

And just for your reminder the latest  skd of BBC Bengali on shortwave monitored by me.

 1330-1400utc  11750kHz 9510kHz 9900kHz

 1630-1700utc   7265kHz 9585kHz 

And a few recent logs/specific reception infos (with audio files in a few cases) which I like to share.

1.All India Radio(AIR) External Service Nepali:

On the boxing day i.e.December 26th, AIR Ext Ser.Nepali heard with good reception overall from 0256utc onwards for a few minuteson 15210kHz (via SPT Bengaluru,500kW) with Hindi film song plus station idd and  World News.

Here is the audio link recorded around 0258utc:

https://app.box.com/s/4ylblzko5lw1arustcf7dz0prwt3e1bh

2.Radio New Zealand(RNZ) English on 7390kHz

For several days,RNZ English only audible to some extent with not so good signal only on 7390kHz from 1400utc for sometime as monitored by me.There was weak side band splatter as interference from a broadcasting station on 7385kHz.

3.Radio Romania International(RRI) English
on 7325kHz from 0100-0156utc

Towards North America East Coast

This is for the first time in many winter seasons RRI English on 7325kHz on the mentioned slot has not been audible as such on my place.Though this RRI English transmission directed to  North America East Coast but still I could listen to it loud and clear here in every winter seasons.But this time it is totally different condition.

4.Radio Taiwan International(RTI) English On 15320kHz during 0300-0400utc

RTI English on that frequency is giving me good reception now-a-days.

5.Radio Philipinas Worldwide English

This station in English nowi s  broadcasting on three frequencies viz. 17820,15640 & 9475kHz during 0200-0330utc.

The reception has been on excellent on 17820 & 15640kHz but very poor overall on 9475kHz in my location.

More such reports,observations etc from time to time.

With Best Wishes

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)

BBC Bangla The Final Countdown On Radio

British Broadcasting Corporation(BBC) Bangla 

The Final Countdown Has Begun On Radio:

Finally, it has been formally announced on air that BBC Bangla is ending its radio transmissions on shortwave etc on December 31st of 2022.

Here is the announcement I recorded on December 15th on 9510kHz around 1342utc:

The audio link:

https://app.box.com/s/3z4oqmn7t10b6z76ohnano8ybuusbled

And from December 16th onwards it is airing interviews with prominent personalities on BBC Bangla .And I heard interviews with famous poltical personalities of Bangladesh so far.I also heard part of an interview with then Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu recorded during his 1984 visit to UK.

From January Ist,2023,BBC Bengali will be fully on its website.

Here is the  current skd of BBC Bengali on shortwave monitored by me.

1330-1400utc  11750kHz 9510kHz 9900kHz

1630-1700utc   7265kHz 9585kHz 

Me & BBC Bangla :Monitor's Nostalgic Flashback

As far as I could recall, my serious listening to BBC Bangla had begun in late 1982-early 1983 during the period of one of the most recent depressing political unrest in my home state Assam's history.And there was lack of accurate news in our Government controlled All India Radio(AIR) Stations and a huge portion of state population tuned to BBC Bangla for accurate news.I was then in my maternal uncle residence in Bilasipara(now Dhubri District then Goalpara District)  and three radios there in our maternal uncle's house, all tuned into BBC Bengali for news about Assam in the morning from 6:00AM & then in the evening from 7:00PM regularly as far as I could recall.And during that time ,BBC WS's English & Hindi transmissions were also tuned into by many besides Voice Of America(VOA)'s Bangla & Hindi transmissions.The old signature tune of BBC Bangla in flute still rings on my ear.That time most of the current affairs dispatches from BBCWS's (English)correspondents  translated by South Asian Languages viz Bengali,Hindi and Urdu Services on their respective languages and  translated reports were aired as far as I could recall.And from late 1980s ,90s...& in 21st centuries, I have numerous hours of BBC Bangla listening on shortwave almost daily from 1990s behind me.I have witnessed many changes in BBC Bengali over the years.All will be now history by the end of this year.And it is also a sad experience to witness as a listener of international analog shortwave broadcasting going off the air of BBC Bangla for good in favour internet platforms (digital media) & so called social media formats viz.facebook,youtube & twitter  with the advent of new technologies.But we have to go with change of technology and current trend of media whether one like it or not.

Here is the announcement on the future of BBC Bangla after December 31st:

(1658utc on  9585kHz heard on December 17th:)

The audio file link:

https://app.box.com/s/tzbdfazjcmgl8cwfkcvzo6d5zngitlu2

Here is the snaps of front & back sides  BBC Bangla printed schedules of 1999 from my collection.

One can  only be in touch  with BBC Bangla On 

bbcbangla.com & also on BBC Bangla's youtube channel,facebook & twitter from January 1st,2023 & bye bye BBC Bangla on analog radio with the end of this year.

73

Gautam Kumar Sharma(GK)(VU3WTI)

(Abhayapuri)(Assam)(India)