This year, Valentine’s Day coincided with the first day of spring, Pohela Falgun, and television channels embraced the dual festivities with a full day of special programming for viewers across Bangladesh. Leading channels offered a blend of drama, music and cultural celebrations to mark both the season of renewal and the day of love.
Maasranga Television kicked off its schedule at 7:00 am with the popular morning show ‘Ranga Shokal’. The episode featured American couple Jacob Berlin and Joya Berlin, who shared their stories of friendship, love, marriage and life experiences in Bangladesh.
At 9:00 am, the channel aired the romantic film ‘Bhalobasha Express’, starring Shakib Khan and Apu Biswas. Evening programming included the drama ‘Brishtir Ghran’ at 8:00 pm, directed by Tarek Rahman and featuring Prantar Dastidar and Bonne Hassan. Actress Shobnom Bubly appeared later at 9:00 pm on the popular podcast-format show ‘Behind the Fame with RRK’.
Bangladesh Television (BTV) also curated a diverse and lively schedule. Musical programmes formed the core of the day’s line-up. At 12:45 pm, a show produced by Ershad Hossain was broadcast, followed by a 5:00 pm programme presented by Hasan Chowdhury and produced by Mahbuba Jemin, which featured performances by Rajib, Piyal Hasan, Champa Banik, Putul, Mohammad Rashed, Smaran and Hasan Chowdhury.
BTV’s prime-time offering at 9:00 pm was the special drama ‘Boshonto Eshe Gechhe’, written by Rezaur Rahman Ijaz and produced by Monirul Hasan. The drama starred Dolly Zahur, Azam Khan, Salman Arafat, Naushin Nahar, Sheikh Swapna, Shafiqul Alam Babu and Shiuli Shila. This was followed at 10:00 pm by the musical programme ‘Bhalobashi Tai Bhalobese Jai’, produced by Afroza Sultana and presented by Adhora Jahan, featuring Alam Ara Minu, Rumana Islam, Anannya Acharya, Khaled Munna, Piyal Hasan, Ankhi Alamgir, Rafti Raya, Tanvir Alam, Chandramoni, Poran and Labannya.
For younger audiences, Duronto TV presented a special dance programme titled ‘Boshonto Batashe’, where child performers danced to songs by Baul legend Shah Abdul Karim. Directed by Partha Pratim Haldar, the show was aired at 8:00 am and repeated at 6:00 pm, creating a colourful tribute to the spring season.
Alongside television, several OTT platforms offered new releases for Valentine’s Day. ‘Tiffin Box’, a flash fiction short story directed by Raqayet Rabbi and streaming on Chorki, explored the hidden care and compassion behind the simple question “Have you eaten?”. The film stars Rukaiya Jahan Chamak and Prantar Dastidar.
