Bangla Breakthrough: ‘Anirban’ AI and Kagoj.ai Platform Launched Ahead of Victory Day
Just a day ahead of Bangladesh’s 54th Victory Day, the country’s first Bangla-language artificial intelligence system, ‘Anirban’, has been officially unveiled. Alongside Anirban, the Kagoj.ai platform was launched, integrating a suite of language tools including Bangla translation, audio transcription, Bangla OCR, and grammar and spelling correction. At the same event, a new Bangla-friendly font named ‘July’, designed to better support conjunct characters and Bangla kar signs, was also introduced.
The launch ceremony was held on Monday, December 15, at the Ruposhi Bangla Grand Ballroom-02 of Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka, with publishers and journalists in attendance. The platforms were inaugurated by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser.
In his inaugural speech, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said that around 4,000 users had tested the system over the past two weeks and reported positive results. To make Bangla accessible to all, the API of Anirban is being opened, and the source code will also be made available, ensuring cyber security safeguards. He added that, to preserve linguistic and cultural diversity, 10,000 oral minutes from each indigenous language community would be collected, paving the way for the development of a Bangla LML (Language Model Layer).
He further noted that Kagoj.ai and the July font would significantly reduce time spent on everyday tasks. Users are encouraged to use the tools free of charge, and usage limits may be extended upon request. Feedback from users, he said, would play a vital role in improving the tools.
“We are moving beyond tool development to building a full device ecosystem, and in the next phase, a Bangla LLM,” Faiz added, noting that incorporating other languages of Bangladesh into this ecosystem is also part of the long-term vision.
The event was chaired by Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the ICT Division. Among the speakers were Professor Dr. Mohammad Azam, Director General of Bangla Academy, and Zahirul Islam, Additional Secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division. The welcome address was delivered by Project Director Mahbub Karim, while researcher Mamunur Rashid gave the technical presentation.
Developed under the initiative of the ICT Division, the services have been opened for public use. Organisers said Kagoj.ai will enable AI-driven Bangla writing, official document preparation, language processing, and content creation—marking a significant milestone in the digital advancement of the Bangla language. No such comprehensive AI platform for Bangla had been launched previously.
The newly introduced July font has been designed specifically for official and institutional use, aiming to overcome longstanding limitations in computer-based Bangla writing.
Government and private sector officials, technology experts, and invited guests attended the event. Both services were developed under the “Enrichment of the Bangla Language in Information Technology through Research and Development” project, implemented by the Bangladesh Computer Council under the ICT Division.
DBTech/IH/OR
