India, Bangladesh to jointly produce '1971 War' documentary

This was decided at a meeting between Information and Broadcasting Minister and his Bangladeshi counterpart.

NEW DELHI: India and Bangladesh will jointly produce a documentary on the 1971 War of Independence of Bangladesh, a statement said here on Wednesday.

This was decided at a meeting between Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasanul Haq Inu here, the statement said.

In this context, Naidu stated at the meeting that the archival material available with Films Division, Doordarshan and other media units in India would be optimally utilised.

"This documentary proposed to be produced would commemorate the 50th year of Bangladesh Independence in 2021," an official release said.

Naidu also agreed to the proposal of Hasanul Haq Inu to facilitate the production of a mega movie by Bangladesh to mark the 100th birth anniversary of "Bangabandhu" Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020.

At the meeting, Naidu said that information dissemination is critical to counter terrorism which is a common issue plaguing both India and Bangladesh.

"Timely and correct dissemination of information will prevent rumours and falsehood, while at the same time, build the spirit of cooperation and understanding between people," he said.

Ajay Mittal, Secretary Information and Broadcasting and senior officials of the I&B Ministry were also present.

Naidu also conveyed to his Bangladesh counterpart that AIR would be launching an exclusive service for Bangladesh and Bengali diaspora titled "Akashvani Maitree" on 23rd August 2016.

President Pranab Mukherjee would be launching the new channel which is expected to act as a bridge of amity between the two countries, the official release said.