KOLKATA: Bangla is the medium and abiding friendship the message as India readies to ride the airwaves into the hearts of listeners across the border with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ’s radio address ‘ Mann Ki Baat ’ translated into the native tongue and incorporating answers to questions invited from the people of Bangladesh Although Mann Ki Baat is aired in English and several regional languages, this is the first time the address, broadcast about once a month, will be tailored to a foreign audience, officials said. This will also mark the first time the citizens of a neighbouring country get to speak their mind and ask questions to the Indian prime minister, they said.Mann Ki Baat will be broadcast in Bangladesh on All India Radio’s upcoming Bangla language service channel Akashvani Maitree, for which AIR has made arrangements to receive comments and voice messages from Bangladeshi citizens.The PM’s speech is likely to be about Indo-Bangladesh “relationship and friendship”.The purpose behind this soft diplomacy is to strengthen bilateral ties and break the stranglehold of Pakistani and Chinese radio channels in the neighbouring country, said one of the officials, who did not wish to be identified. Akashvani Maitree has initiated the process to tie up with local Bangladeshi FM channels as well, he said.The channel plans to air discussions to cultivate India’s image as that of a “friendly state” that stood by Bangladesh during its “Mukti Juddho” (liberation war), an effort to curb the influence of India’s hostile neighbours on Bangladesh at a time when the Modi government enjoys friendly relations with the Awami League government.“This is the first major outreach that Akashvani made to Bangladesh by upgrading its own special Bangla service to access talent and knowledge from Bangladesh,” Prasar Bharti CEO Jawhar Sircar told ET.Maitree is a joint effort of the two countries and it will have sessions on historical events such as the “liberation war” in 1971 to retell India’s role in the formation of Bangladesh. It will also air cultural programmes and discussions on agro-economic issues that are similar on both sides of the border.“There had been some concerted efforts, inimical to our country. Bangladesh has been targeted by such forces through radio. There had been attacks on the freethinkers in Bangladesh too,” said Amlanjyoti Mazumdar, director at AIR’s external services division said. “We will try to motivate the people living there with our tradition and culture. Both sides of Bengal share almost similar culture and tradition,” he said.AIR has installed a 1,000 mw digital transmitter to ensure accurate reception quality, Mazumdar said. “We have come up with a multimedia website and developed a mobile app. The programmes can be live streamed. The NSSO (National Sample Survey Organisation) data reveal that 85% of Bangladeshi people get access to radio through mobile. And that is why the app has been developed,” he said.The channel will be inaugurated by President Pranab Mukherjee in July at an event where West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will also be present, people familiar with the matter said.They said the programme will open with iconic actor Soumitra Chatterjee reciting “Banglar Mukh Ami Dekhechi” by poet Jibanananda Das, followed by a Bhatiyali song ‘Ganga Amar Ma’ sung by Usha Uthup.The programmes conceived for the channel include ‘Sakal er Adda’ (morning rendezvous), which will be in the form of a freewheeling chat with guests from both India and Bangladesh.Another programme, called ‘Solo Ana Bangalee’ (quintessential Bengali) will have celebrities, authors, artists and intellectuals from both the countries narrating their stories of success.Keeping students in mind, AIR has come up with an idea to hold a panel discussion called ‘Campus E Adda’, where university students from the two sides will get to participate. Also in the works is a reality show in which people from both countries will be able to participate.