'Southasian' launched

Among other initiatives, Southasian will launch a programme to be aired from Kolkata aiming at rediscovering and reinforcing a Southasian identity based on a shared history, civilisation and culture.

Hosted by media partners from the region, the programme featuring news, special features, profiles and interviews from South Asia will be aired initially once a week.

Rathikant Basu, chairman of Broadcast Worldwide Limited, announced the decision to form this Southasian platform.

He referred to the spirit of Saarc and reiterated the working group's commitment to South Asian peace, progress, diversity and opposition to divisiveness in any form or force.

"Establishing a Southasian identity in the subcontinent" is the focus of the entity, he added.

Media personalities like Shahid Nadeem from Pakistan, Kiran Shrestha and Rajendra B Singh from Nepal, and Sara Zaker, Aly Zaker and Lubna Marium from Bangladesh form part of the team.