For many listeners across Bangladesh, the ritual of tuning in to Bhoot FM at midnight on Fridays became an enduring cultural experience. Launched in 2010, the radio program featured narrated tales of alleged paranormal encounters from around the country, with Md Asraful Alam—known on air as RJ Russell—serving as the distinctive voice that brought these stories to life.
The concept behind Bhoot FM emerged from a desire to break away from conventional radio formats dominated by brief segments, advertisements, and music. Alam and his team opted for a continuous late-night broadcast starting at 11:59 p.m. on Fridays, a time slot that allowed for uninterrupted storytelling and coincided with the onset of darkness—a key element contributing to the show's eerie atmosphere.
“The timing was chosen specifically because there were no ads then, allowing us to go live for a long duration,” Alam recalled. This unique scheduling became integral to the listener experience. Stories aired just before midnight, when many were already immersed in the quiet and darkness of night, often amplifying the fear factor. Alam noted that the impact of the stories was heightened by listeners’ subsequent encounters with night-time solitude, such as walking alone to the restroom or sleeping alone, situations that intensified the lingering unease.
Initially, the creators did not anticipate the show’s growing popularity. Listener engagement quickly escalated, with audiences submitting their own paranormal experiences and returning weekly to hear new accounts. Alam credited the program’s success to the passion behind the narration and the originality of the content rather than professional obligation alone. “People resonate with that kind of originality,” he explained, emphasizing the value of genuine enthusiasm in connecting with audiences.
One memorable account came from a man who visited the studio prior to an episode, sharing a story of developing an inexplicable ability to read others’ thoughts after an encounter with a beggar. Such encounters helped sustain a steady stream of content for Bhoot FM, but it was Alam’s approach to storytelling—building suspense and immersion—that shaped the show’s lasting impression.
The program’s influence extended beyond the airwaves, as evidenced by moments when admiration for the show translated into real-life recognition. Alam recounted an incident at a grocery store where a customer expressed urgency to finish shopping to avoid missing the broadcast, highlighting the strong cultural foothold Bhoot FM had established.
Bhoot FM aired its final episode in 2019, closing a chapter that had defined Friday nights for nearly a decade. Post-Bhoot FM, Alam transitioned away from mainstream radio to continue his passion for horror storytelling through new ventures. He now hosts Bhoot.com.bd, an online platform, and is developing an app to enable a global audience to contribute their own paranormal stories.
Reflecting on the changing media landscape, Alam emphasized that success hinges on originality and sincerity rather than the platform: “No matter the platform, it needs to be original, and the person doing it needs to be passionate about it.” While Bhoot FM no longer occupies the midnight slot that made it iconic, its legacy endures in the memories of those who embraced its chilling tales and the distinctive voice that narrated them.