India and Bangladesh will jointly produce a documentary on the 1971 War of Independence of Bangladesh, the Information and Broadcasting ministry said on Wednesday.
India will also facilitate the production of a “mega movie” by Bangladesh to mark the 100th birth anniversary of its Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 2020.
In a meeting between Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Bangladesh Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, India also informed that All India Radio would be launching an exclusive service for Bangladesh and Bengali diaspora titled “Akashvani Maitree” on 23 August.
“India would be launching the channel which would act as a ‘bridge of amity between the two countries’”, an official statement said.
In the context of production of the documentary on the 1971 War of Independence of Bangladesh, Naidu suggested that the archival material available with Films Division, DD and other media units of the government be optimally utilised, a statement released by the I&B ministry said.
This documentary proposed to be produced would commemorate the 50th year of Bangladesh Independence in 2021.
In the meeting, Naidu also 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.M Venkaiah Naidu
During the discussions, India and Bangladesh agreed to work out a proposal for a joint audio-visual co-production agreement between the two countries.
It was also agreed to organise a Film Festival of India in Bangladesh and a Bangladesh Film Festival in India. The Bangladesh Minister also agreed to the request of Naidu to provide the celluloid version of the Bengali film Devdas directed by Pramatesh Barua in 1935, the statement said.
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