Gaan Bangla

Gaan Bangla
গান বাংলা
CountryBangladesh
Broadcast areaNationwide
HeadquartersBaridhara, Dhaka
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV (downscaled to 16:9 576i for SDTV sets)
Ownership
OwnerOne More Zero Group[1]
Key people
History
Launched16 December 2013; 11 years ago (2013-12-16)
Links
Websitewww.gaanbangla.tv

Gaan Bangla (Bengali: গান বাংলা; lit.'Song Bangla'),[3] also known by the acronym GB, is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language music television channel owned by One More Zero Group, through Birds Eye Mass Media and Communication.[4] Launched on 16 December 2013, it is Bangladesh's second music-oriented television channel. After Channel 16's closure, Gaan Bangla became the country's sole music channel.[5] The channel is based in Baridhara, Dhaka.[6]

History

In October 2011, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission granted "Gaan Bangla TV" a license to broadcast.[7] The channel began transmissions as Gaan Bangla on 16 December 2013 as Bangladesh's first music-oriented television channel broadcasting in high definition,[8] with its prime focus on redefining the standards of music video production. As a high-definition television channel, artists and video creators alike were inspired to start creating high-definition content.[1]

In July 2016, Gaan Bangla premiered its first self-produced musical series titled Wind of Change, which was believed to have revolutionized television music shows in Bangladesh. Wind of Change featured popular Bangladeshi artists such as Ayub Bachchu, Miles (band), and more. It presented new renditions of Bengali songs in collaboration with international instrumentalists. At the same time, the country was introduced to 'Behaya Mon' by Chisty Baul.[9]

On 5 August 2024, the channel went off the air temporarily after its offices in Dhaka were attacked and set on fire by protesters during the non-cooperation movement, shortly after prime minister Sheikh Hasina resigned. It was one of several television channels that were vandalized and, as a result, were forced out of the air.[10][11] Gaan Bangla later resumed broadcasting.[12] On 11 December 2024, Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited shut Gaan Bangla down at 12:00 (BST) for failing to pay its fees exceeding BDT 1.5 crore.[4][13][14]

Programming

Wind of Change

Gaan Bangla is most famous for the Wind of Change series, which debuted in 2016. It showcases local and international musicians performing together, with music composed by Taposh. The series featured famous Bangladeshi artists.[15]

Controversies

On 4 November 2024, Gaan Bangla managing director Kaushik Hossain Taposh was arrested in Uttara and taken into custody in a case alleging attempt of murder.[16][17] Almost a month later, on 3 December, another case was filed against Taposh and Farzana Munny, his wife and the chairwoman of the channel, alongside three others, by Syed Shams Uddin Ahmed, who registered a company called Birds Eye Mass Media on 25 July 2011 in order to launch the channel, accusing them of illegally taking over the ownership of the channel from Ahmed by threatening him on gunpoint.[18] Taposh was subsequently arrested again on 9 December.[19][20]

References

  1. ^ a b c "About Us". Gaan Bangla. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  2. ^ Amin, Amira (24 February 2018). "Femme Fabulous Farzana Munny". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  3. ^ Biswas, Sailendra (2000). "Samsad Bengali-English dictionary. 3rd ed". Calcutta: Sahitya Samsad. p. 307. Archived from the original on 30 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Why did Gaan Bangla suddenly go off-air?". Dhaka Tribune. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  5. ^ "Gaan Bangla celebrates 7 year-long journey". The Daily Star. 15 December 2020. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Contact Us". Gaan Bangla. Archived from the original on 21 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  7. ^ অনুমোদনের অপেক্ষায় আরো ১৩ টিভি. BDNews24 (in Bengali). 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  8. ^ বছর পেরিয়ে গানবাংলা. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 16 December 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  9. ^ 'গানবাংলা হয়ে উঠেছে বাংলা গানের মুখপত্র'. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). 16 December 2020. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  10. ^ একাত্তর-এটিএনসহ ৬ টিভির সম্প্রচার বন্ধ. Dhaka Tribune (in Bengali). 6 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Gaan Bangla TV station vandalised amid clashes". The Daily Star. 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 23 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Gaan Bangla resumes operation". The Daily Star. 13 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  13. ^ গান বাংলা টিভির সম্প্রচার বন্ধ. Amader Shomoy (in Bengali). 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  14. ^ বন্ধ হল তাপসের গান বাংলা!. Janakantha (in Bengali). 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  15. ^ Haque, Minam (2 July 2016). "Wind of Change". The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Gaan Bangla TV chairman Taposh arrested". Prothom Alo. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  17. ^ গান বাংলার চেয়ারম্যান তাপস গ্রেপ্তার. The Daily Star. 4 November 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  18. ^ "Taposh, wife among 5 sued over 'illegal takeover' of Gaan Bangla". BDNews24. 6 December 2024. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  19. ^ গান বাংলা দখলের মামলায় গ্রেপ্তার তাপস. Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  20. ^ "Taposh shown arrested in case for grabbing Gaan Bangla TV". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 9 November 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.