Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra was the radio broadcasting centre of Bengali nationalist forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. This station played a vital role in liberation struggle, broadcasting the Declaration of Independence and increasing mental state of Bangladeshis during the war. In 1971, radio was the only media reaching to the far ends of Bangladesh. It ran a propaganda campaign through the war.
Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra (SBBK) artistes presented inspirational songs those they used to perform from the defunct radio station during the Liberation War to inspire the freedom fighters and the masses.
Swadhin Bangla Betar Karmi Parishad, a platform of artistes and technical crews of SBBK organised the event at the main auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum as part of its regular programme.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq was present at the event as the chief guest, while Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra producer Ashfaqur Rahman Khan, elocutionist Ashraful Alam and others spoke at the discussion. Veteran journalist Kamal Lohani, then head of news of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra presided over the event.
The discussants talked about various aspects of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra. They talked that during the period of Liberation War of Bangladesh, media supported mass sentiments. They aired patriotic songs and talk shows. In the process of achieving our independence by trouncing the atrocities of the Pakistani military forces, the war-time broadcasting station "Shadheen Bangla Betar Kendra" played a vital role- in increasing the mental state of the whole Bangali nation by informing us how well we are advancing towards the victory. Shadheen Bangla Betar Kendra reached its pinnacle during the Liberation War being acclaimed as the stool pigeon of war news updates through "Chorom Potro". In those days when radio was the only media reaching to the far ends of Bangladesh, Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra eventually turned as the orator of the Bangladesh government in exile. It ran the nationalist campaign throughout the war in gearing up our freedom fighters moral and also mobilising world opinion in favour of Bangladesh.
The show began with rendition of the national anthem by the SBBK artistes, who have been recognised as the freedom fighters by the government in 2014 for their contributions to generating awareness among the masses and boosting the freedom fighters during the war.
Elocutionist Dalia Ahmed recited poems, Charampatra and varied valuable writings from the Liberation War.
A number of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra artistes- Mamunur Rashid, Mazharul Islam, Bulbul Mahalanbish, Golam Rabbani, Mohsin Reza and Abu Nawshed-read from the popular play Jallader Darbar.
Popular patriotic song Swadhin swadhin dikey dikey, which used to be aired regularly from the defunct radio station to boost the freedom fighters, was rendered in chorus by 15 SBBK artistes, including, Timir Nandi, Bulbul Mahalanbish, Shilpi Mahalanbish, Manjula Dasgupta, MA Mannan, Monwar Hossain Khan and Abu Nawsher.
A number of noted artistes also presented a number of patriotic songs, Tagore and Nazrul songs.
