The World Radio Day remains largely unknown in Madagascar as it is still fairly new in the Indian Ocean island country after introduced only two years ago.

The day is set on Feb. 13 by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

"I like to listen the radio but I do not know that today is the World Radio Day," Felana, a student at Antananarivo university, told Xinhua on Wednesday.

"I listen to the radio every day but I don't know that there is that World Radio Day," Raparany, a police official, told Xinhua.

"What a shame, I don't heard yet this World Radio Day," a government official asking not to be identified told Xinhua.

Asked why Malagasy people do not know the World Radio Day, Secretary General of the Malagasy National Commission for UNESCO Cyril Mihamitsy said because the celebration of the day began in the world last year.

Mihamitsy said the UNESCO asked during its 36th General Conference in October 2011 to celebrate World Radio Day every Feb. 13. It was celebrated for the first time in 2012 with the participation of 4,000 stations in 130 countries, including Madagascar.

Mihamitsy explained that the World Radio Day was created by UNESCO to promote freedom of expression over airwaves.

Radio is the fastest source of information in Madagascar, where 75 percent of households have a radio.

Madagascar has about 260 radio stations, including 60 in Antananarivo, capital of the country. Endi

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