Mehdi Hasan finally agrees to receive Ekushey Padak with Avro co-creators
In an unprecedented event, Avro creator Mehdi Hasan Khan has agreed to receive the coveted Ekushey Padak, on the condition that his teammates Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam Siyam, and Shabab Mustafa also be conferred with the award.
The decision emerged after extensive consultations by Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki with Mehdi Hasan Khan, who initially expressed reluctance to accept the award on his own. The software has transformed digital communication by enabling millions worldwide to write Bangla online with ease.
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"Let's get straight to it! We knew from the start that Mehdi Hasan Khan wasn't keen on accepting awards. He had been approached before but declined. Even knowing that he might not accept, our cabinet agreed to go ahead and announce his name for the award. Through this, we wanted to make a statement about who we choose to celebrate through this prestigious award" stated Mostofa Sarwar Farooki in a Facebook post on Sunday.
"When we spoke with him yesterday, he was still reluctant to accept the Ekushey Padak. But finally, he agreed. However, he didn't want to take all the credit alone. Mehdi insisted that his three friends—Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam Siyam, and Shabab Mustafa, who all played crucial roles in developing Avro—also share the honor with him. He refused to receive the award without them," said the cultural adviser.
"After much deliberation, we are thrilled to recognise these four remarkable individuals collectively with the Ekushey Padak. Their efforts defy convention and have left a lasting mark on how Bangla is written digitally. This award is a testament to their extraordinary contribution."
"All four of them will be flying in from different corners of the globe to receive the award in Bangladesh. We can't wait to welcome them all. I'm sure this will inspire many young people to keep moving forward—no matter what—and to do it together," stated Farooki.
The Ekushey Padak, named after February 21—International Mother Language Day—honours those who have significantly contributed to the preservation and promotion of the Bengali language. It stands as a tribute to the language martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement and symbolises the nation's ongoing commitment to its cultural heritage.
Avro Keyboard, a free and open-source Bengali keyboard, was created in 2003 by young developer Mehdi Hasan Khan. While studying at Dhaka's Ideal School and later Notre Dame College, Mehdi was inspired during a visit to the Bangla Academy's Ekushey Book Fair by a Bangla website using Unicode on Linux. Determined to simplify Bengali typing for Windows users, he developed Avro Keyboard using Visual Basic and unveiled it on March 26, 2003, even while attending Mymensingh Medical College. His motto, "Let language be free," captures his unwavering commitment.
Over time, Avro Keyboard has become indispensable for millions, offering both fixed and phonetic layouts that enable romanised transliteration of Bengali.
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