India always attaches highest importance to bilateral relations with Bangladesh: President

KOLKATA: The cross-border radio service, ‘ Akashvani Maitree’ has today been launched by Pranab Mukherjee, President of India. Mentioning the “umbilical connection of ethnicity and kinship” between the two countries, he said that India always attaches highest importance to bilateral relations with Bangladesh

“Akashvani Maitree channel can play a significant role in promoting and preserving the composite Bengali cultural heritage .India and Bangladesh are not just neighbours but are bound by an umbilical connection of ethnicity and kinship. India always attaches highest importance to bilateral relations with Bangladesh because of our shared history, heritage, culture, language, physical proximity and also the role which the two nations can play together for the development and prosperity of the entire subcontinent and beyond,” said the President in the occasion.

Lauding the efforts of both the governments, he said, “With the launch of Akashvani Maitree, a new chapter is being added in the annals of India- Bangladesh relation.” He further added that he was sure that the blending of content from both India and Bangladesh in the fields of art, culture, literature, music, sports and also on shared socio-economic issues will make the channel a unique one and establish it in the hearts of millions of radio loving people both in India and Bangladesh as well as outside.

Elaborating on the radio initiative ,he said that Akashvani Maitree and its multimedia website is a unique venture and initiative of All India Radio not only for the Bengali listeners in West Bengal, Bangladesh and the adjoining areas but the entire Bengali speaking Diaspora living in different parts of the globe.