[16] BTV first commenced transmissions on 25 December 1964 at 19:00 (Dhaka Standard Time), as a pilot project in the then East Pakistan under the name, Pilot Television Dacca,[17] airing a song titled "Oi Je Akash Nil Holo Aaj/Shei Shudhu Tomar Preme", sung by singer Ferdausi Rahman.

One of the first broadcasts on the station was also the announcement, "Accept our best wishes, pilot television, Dhaka, 10 Poush 1371", using the Bengali calendar date rather than the Gregorian one.

The first drama telecast on PTV's Dacca television station, Ektala Dotala, written by Munier Choudhury, was aired in 1965.

[28] On 23 March 1971, three days before Bangladesh was declared an independent state, Dacca Television began displaying the flag of Bangladesh and playing the Bangladeshi national anthem, Amar Sonar Bangla, rather than the Pakistani flag and national anthem,[29] despite special programming being arranged on the occasion of Pakistan Day.

As a result, the Pakistan Armed Forces took control of the DIT Bhaban on 26 March but was attacked by the Mukti Bahini.

A signature tune for the station was later made, being based on Dhanadhanya pushpo bhora amader ei boshundhora, a patriotic song written by Bengali poet Dwijendralal Ray.

[33] On 9 February 1975, the offices and studios were shifted to the newly built headquarters located at Rampura in Dacca with newer technology.

[19] A while following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, four BTV officials, including one of the founders of the network and then deputy general director, Monirul Alam, were massacred on 7 November 1975.

[48] In 1994, BTV telecasted its first private production, a one-hour play Prachir Periye, directed by Atiqul Haque Chowdhury.

As competition grew over the years, BTV declined and stagnated, and privately owned television channels gained more popularity among locals.

[53] In April 2005, the Bangladeshi adaptation of Sesame Street, Sisimpur, debuted on BTV, which still airs the series as of today.

[54] Due to a power outage caused by the North Indian Ocean cyclone on 17 November 2007, BTV temporarily ceased transmissions for nearly three hours that day.

[60] On the same day, BTV commenced experimental broadcasts on digital terrestrial television in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Khulna.

[69][70] To celebrate BTV's 55th anniversary in 2019, privately owned Channel i organized a special program in its headquarters, which was broadcast on both networks.

[74] BTV announced to establish an educational channel to make remote learning more effective on students, which was also planned way back in 2008.

[83] The High Court of Bangladesh revived the trial for the four BTV officials killed in 1975 on 31 August 2022, lifting a stay order issued on 25 April 2010.

[84] In November 2022, with the cost of 980 million BDT, Bangladesh Television gained the rights of airing the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.

[87] Amid the quota reform protests, some unidentified individuals stormed the headquarters of Bangladesh Television and set it ablaze on 18 July 2024.

[92][93] Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina later visited the headquarter building on July 26 and called for the punishment of the perpetrators.

[95][96] On the same day, Jahangir Alam was removed as the director general, being appointed as the Officer on Special Duty in the Ministry of Public Administration.

[103] The relay stations are located at Natore, Khulna, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Rangpur, Noakhali, Brahmanbaria, Thakurgaon, Rajshahi, Jhenaidah, Satkhira, Patuakhali, Ukhia, and Rangamati respectively.

[15] The network announced to establish six more regional BTV stations for the rest of Bangladesh's divisions, namely Barisal, Khulna, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Sylhet.

[122] In 2016, BTV Chittagong began satellite transmissions with airtime hours increasing over time, which broadcast in 60 countries worldwide.

[79] The logo of Bangladesh Television was claimed to be created by prominent art director Mohiuddin Faroque in 1971 in one article.

The logo consists of a 60s-style television screen with a red disc and a green line inside, resembling a sunrise.

[131] BTV also airs English-language news and entertainment programming, including acquired foreign television series.

[26] It has also aired several foreign television series, such as Alif Laila and The Sword of Tipu Sultan, which helped with the network's success.

[10] For a long time, privately owned television channels were mandated to broadcast BTV's two o'clock news bulletin.

[52] By 2018, Bangladesh Television began regaining its fame and relevancy, after the network reformed its programming, which led to a tremendous increase in viewership.

According to Hasanul Haq Inu, the then minister of information of Bangladesh, around 83% of the country's population watched BTV in that year.