AI App ‘ELSA Speak’ Officially Launched in Bangladesh

Jul 26, 2025 23:25

Jul 26, 2025 23:27

ELSA Speak (English Language Speech Assistant), the artificial intelligence-based app designed to enhance spoken English skills, has been officially launched in Bangladesh. The U.S.-based app, which debuted in 2015, is currently used by over 80 million people across 190 countries.

Bangladeshi edtech company Backbone Ltd has partnered with ELSA Corporation to introduce the app locally. Until now, Bangladeshi users accessed the app by purchasing it directly through ELSA’s global website. With this partnership, local users can now purchase the app via Backbone's website and enjoy country-specific discounts.

Two versions of the app—ELSA School, aimed at improving students' English-speaking abilities in classrooms, and ELSA Business, tailored for corporate and professional users—will be available in Bangladesh.

The formal announcement of the launch was made on Friday, July 25, during a partnership signing ceremony held at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka. Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, was present as the chief guest. The agreement was signed by Will Polese, Vice President of Revenue at ELSA Corporation, and Abdul Matin Sheikh Mahin, Chairman and Managing Director of Backbone Ltd.

Also present at the event were Arif Ullah Khan, Executive Director of Backbone Ltd, and Aminur Rahman, Director of Human Resources, among other officials.

According to the organizers, ELSA Speak serves as a personal speech coach on mobile platforms. The AI-driven app helps users enhance their pronunciation and fluency in English by analyzing their speech and providing real-time feedback.

In his speech, Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam stated, “In today’s era, AI technology has become one of the most vital tools for education and skill development. The ELSA Speak app opens a groundbreaking window of opportunity for the younger generation. To compete in the global market, international-standard English proficiency is essential. Technology-based solutions like ELSA are highly timely to meet this demand.”