AkkhorBangla, getting bigger and better

In respect to February 21 and upholding the dignity of our mother language, Salam has added a user-forum in AkkhorBangla's website (akkhorbangla.com), where visitors are given the chance to download a free demo version of the software and may win a free copy of the software by submitting their opinions about AkkhorBangla after using it. "This section was introduced in February 11, and will continue till the end of the month," Salam said.

"Initially, only Bangladeshi citizens will be selected from the forum," said Salam, discussing about the selection method. "From them ten lucky users will receive a free-copy of AkkhorBangla." The process involves online registration with name and address and the selection method will be executed using a random-number generator.

"I hope this will bring in a consciousness for using AkkhorBangla in everyday computer usage," hopes Salam. It should be mentioned here that, AkkhorBangla works exactly like a Bangla word processor and can be used to write Bangla using a Bangla keyboard or just by clicking the mouse. "There is a built-in display of all Bengali alphabets and vowel notations," said the young developer. One may choose to write Bangla phonetically in English and the expressions will be picked up by the processor and displayed in Bengali.

"You may also convert any text you write into picture files using AkkhorBangla, thus there remains no problem in sending such texts in emails or using it in a web-interface," clarified Salam, while he mentioned the use of Visual Basics primarily and Visual C++ at the background for executing such commands. The processor also comes with a life-time Bangla calender, an a MP3 player with possible Bengali playlists, a keyboard manager to type in MicroSoft Word or elsewhere, Bengali typing-tutor, an Unicode converter and a Bangla reader and translator. The 'reader' reads out any Bangla word one writes.

AkkhorBangla won the first prize at the BCS Computer Showcase 2003, and after that Salam got the contract to upgrade AkkhorBangla with further enhancement. "They wanted AkkhorBangla to do a lot more than just write Bangla," Salam said. "This is another reason why I have built an online forum," he stated, mentioning how the guidance from the user-end has always made it possible for him to add new phases to the software.