Prez launches AIR’s Bengali language channel

India’s projected growth cannot be achieved neglecting the east, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday. He was inaugurating the Bharat Chambers, the new office building of Bharat Chambers of Commerce on Syed Amir Ali Avenue on Tuesday afternoon.

The President said the slogan has changed from Look East to Act East and urged the industrialists to take leading role in investing in Eastern part of the country. The Eastern part comprising West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand along seven sisters of North-eastern state had played a significant role in shaping the country’s economy. The areas are rich in minerals, oil, jute and agricultural products. Also, cottage industry had flourished in these areas. He urged industrialists to make full use of the opportunities that were available and take leading role in shaping the country’s economy.

Recollecting his long association with the Bharat Chambers of Commerce as the country’s Finance minister and Commerce minister, he said he had attended its AGM and had the opportunity to share his views with the captains of the industry. He lit the ceremonial lamps and inaugurated the plaque to open the building of 115 year old Bharat Chambers of Commerce.

Earlier during the day the President launched Akashvani Maitree, a radio service for Bengali listeners aimed at providing a platform for blending content both from India and Bangladesh and preserving Bengali culture. “With this launch, a new chapter is being added in the India-Bangladesh relations,” he said while launching the channel at the Raj Bhavan. “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 for the entire Bengali-speaking diaspora living in different parts of the globe,” he said.

Mukherjee said: “India always attaches highest importance to bilateral relations with Bangladesh because of our shared history, heritage, culture, language and physical proximity.” The channel will be broadcast from a state-of-the-art brand new high power 1000Kw DRM transmitter with a capacity to reach the entire length and breadth of Bangladesh through medium wave and will be also available globally on its website and mobile app.