ProMASS News Bureau: Aug 23, 2016: The All India Radio has launched the Maitree Channel today. President Pranab Mukherjee launched the radio service in Kolkata. The AIR channel also known as Akashvani Maitree will showcase Bangla culture and heritage.The first-of-its-kind service can be heard both in India and Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi has congratulated All India Radio (Akashvani), on the launch of Akashvani Maitree. “Congratulations to Akashvani (AIR) on launch of Akashvani Maitree, inaugurated by President of India. This can be heard in India and Bangladesh. Akashvani Maitree will serve as one more bridge of friendship between people of India and Bangladesh”, the Prime Minister said.
Mainly in Bengali, the service will provide a platform for content creation and sharing of cultural heritage between the two countries.Maitree will relay special programmes on Bangla literature and culture, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti – or, music of Bangladesh national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam – quizzes, sports programmes, Bengali recipes, and programmes on socio-economic and agricultural issues of the region, among others.
The President said the channel is an important communication tool between the countries. A state-of-the-art 1,000 KW Digital Radio Mondiale transmitter has been installed in Chinsurah in West Bengal to enable the service to be broadcasted across the length and breadth of Bangladesh. The service will be broadcast in India and Bangladesh on 596 Khz for 16 hours daily. Information and Broadcasting Minister Venkaiah Naidu congratulated people of both the countries saying that the initiative will further strengthen the bond between India and Bangladesh.
He added that the channel will be a medium of cultural exchanges and other viewpoints. Maitree will relay special programmes on Bangla literature and culture, Rabindra Sangeet, Nazrul Geeti – or, music of Bangladesh national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam – quizzes, sports programmes, Bengali recipes, and programmes on socio-economic and agricultural issues of the region, among others.
