Prez launches AIR’s Bengali language channel

Kolkata, Aug 23 (PTI) President Pranab Mukherjee todaylaunched Akashvani Maitree, a radio service for Bengalilisteners aimed at providing a platform for blending contentboth from India and Bangladesh and preserving Bengali culture. "With this launch, a new chapter is being added in theIndia-Bangladesh relations," he said while launching thechannel at the Raj Bhavan here. "Akashvani Maitree and its multimedia website is a uniqueventure and initiative of All India Radio not only for theBengali listeners in West Bengal, Bangladesh and the adjoiningareas but for the entire Bengali-speaking diaspora living indifferent parts of the globe," he said. Noting that India and Bangladesh are not just neighboursbut are bound by an umbilical connection of ethnicity andkinship, Mukherjee said, "India always attaches highestimportance to bilateral relations with Bangladesh because ofour shared history, heritage, culture, language, physicalproximity." He said the two countries can play an important role inthe development and prosperity of the entire subcontinent andbeyond. The concept of the channel emanates from the decisiontaken during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi toBangladesh wherein the two sides agreed to share content amongtheir broadcasting organisations. The channel will be broadcast from a state-of-the-artbrand new high power 1000Kw DRM transmitter with a capacity toreach the entire length and breadth of Bangladesh throughmedium wave and will be also available globally on its websiteand mobile app. Mukherjee said Akashvani has a special place in the heartof millions of people of the Bangladesh since 1971 when theprecursor to Akashvani Maitree, a special service in Banglawas launched in the wake the Bangladesh liberation movement. He recalled that the channel had played a historic roleduring the liberation movement. According to Mukherjee, the new channel can play asignificant role in promoting and preserving the compositeBengali cultural heritage which, he said, is proud inheritanceof all Bengali-speaking people irrespective of theirgeographical location. "I am sure the blending of content from both India andBangladesh in the fields if art, culture, literature, music,sports and also on shared socio-economic issues will make thechannel a unique one," he said, adding it will be useful forlisteners on both sides of the border. He also said India and Bangladesh can work together forfurther realising the full potential of the SAARC initiative.PTI ZHZMN