CA Yunus hands over Ekushey Padak to Avro Keyboard team 

The creators of Avro Keyboard have received the Ekushey Padak, the country's second-highest civilian honour, in recognition of their contribution to the development of Bangla computing.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus handed over the award to Mehdi Hasan Khan, Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam Siam and Shabab Mustafa at a ceremony in Dhaka this morning (20 February).

Avro Keyboard, first introduced in 2003, revolutionised Bangla typing by making it accessible and user-friendly. The software gained widespread popularity, allowing users to type Bangla phonetically without the need for complex keyboard layouts.

Mehdi and his team's innovation has played a crucial role in digitising the Bangla language, making it easier for millions of people to communicate online and create content in their native script.

Mehdi Hasan Khan initially refused to accept the Ekushey Padak alone, emphasising that Avro Keyboard was a collaborative effort developed with his friends. He publicly voiced his concerns, stating that the recognition should be shared among all contributors who played a vital role in creating and refining the software. His stance sparked discussions, drawing attention to the contributions of the entire development team behind Avro Keyboard.  

Following his appeal, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs reconsidered its decision and announced that the award would be jointly given to Mehdi and his three teammates — Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam Siam, and Shabab Mustafa.