Bangladesh has licensed 14 new FM radio stations and around 60 community stations.

The mass awards along with 13 new TV channels – came just a few days before the government called a parliamentary elections.

The Dhaka Tribune says the licenses were handed out to those officials “deemed qualified”.

They will now receive frequency allocations from the Bangladesh Telecommuncations Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

Stations granted licenses were Radio Dhol of ruling party lawmaker Shahriar Alam, Radio Capital of Sayem Sobhan of East West Media Group (Basundhara), Radio Dinrat of Anjan Chowdhury of Square Group, Radio Active of actress Shomi Kaiser, Desh Radio of actor Nader Chowdhury, Radio Masala of Shila Islam, Radio Next of Mosabbir Ahmad, Bangla Radio of AKM Sahid Reza, Jago FM of Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Radio Dhoni of Rashedul Hossain Chowdhury, Radio CIUS of Syed Jahirul Islam, Radio City of Kazi Mahfuzur Rahman, Radio Age of Shafqat Samiur Rahman and Times Radio of Abdullah Al Mamun.

Reports suggest that most community radio licences were given to NGOs, mostly in coastal and rural areas.

Parliamentary elections will be held on January 5.