Mehdi Hasan Khan, the innovator behind the Unicode-based Bangla writing software Avro Keyboard, has been nominated for the Ekushey Padak in Science and Technology this year. However, acknowledging the collaborative nature of Avro’s development, he considers this achievement a team effort rather than an individual honor.
As a result, three other contributors—Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam Siam, and Shabab Mustafa—will also be awarded in this category, according to Cultural Affairs Advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki.
On Sunday (February 9), Farooki wrote on his verified Facebook page, “It can now be openly stated that we knew Mehdi Hasan Khan was not keen on accepting the award. He had been approached before as well. Even knowing he might decline, we proceeded with the cabinet’s decision to announce the award, as we wanted to send a message about who we choose to celebrate.”
Confirming that Mehdi Hasan had agreed to accept the honor, the advisor added, “He did not want to take credit alone. His three friends—Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam Siam, and Shabab Mustafa—played crucial roles in developing Avro. Without them, he was unwilling to accept the award. We are delighted to announce that these four visionaries, who have moved against the tide, will be honored collectively with the Ekushey Padak for Avro.”
Farooki also mentioned that all four contributors, residing in different parts of the world, will be traveling to Bangladesh to receive the award.
Later in the evening, the official Facebook page of Avro Keyboard Bangla Software shared a post by Mehdi Hasan Khan, where he noted that his personal Facebook account had been inactive for a long time. He wrote, “Fame, whether desired or not, has both advantages and disadvantages. I won’t talk about the inconveniences today. One advantage is that when needed, you can find people willing to stand by you. Before gaining recognition, finding such companions—let alone capable ones—was much harder.”
He continued, “In 2003, when I started working on Avro, neither the software nor I was known. I created an online forum to help users with technical issues. Unicode usage was still new, and there were countless problems. Gradually, people started gathering in the forum, bringing their issues. I tried to solve them or fix bugs and release updates. Over time, some unknown individuals—not just users with problems but also those eager to help—began assisting others. Eventually, I met some of them outside the online forum. We were all students at the time. For some reason, they believed in Avro’s mission without any expectations in return.”
Reflecting on Avro’s journey, he said, “From the forum, we ventured into font design and software development. Over time, many contributed and left for various reasons, but a handful of us remained committed for over a decade. Despite attempts by some to obstruct us, the unwavering dedication of selfless individuals ensured our progress.”
He added, “I cannot please everyone. But I can at least ensure that the team’s achievement is not credited to an individual. After the Ekushey Padak announcement, I connected with Advisor Farooki Bhai. I did not have to explain much, and for that, I am grateful.”
As one of Avro Keyboard’s core contributors, Mehdi Hasan stated, “Since 2003, many have contributed to Avro, and each of them deserves recognition. But those of us who have been there from start to finish—Rifat, Siam, Shabab—I cannot accept this award without them. The advisor understood this and convinced the others as well. They emphasized that receiving the award or not is secondary; what matters is that the state acknowledges our contribution. I accepted their reasoning. If we want to preserve Avro’s mission for future generations, let our teamwork also be an example.”
Concluding his post, he wrote, “One cannot go far alone. In the end, everything worked out well. They are also awarding the Bangladesh Women’s Football Team. Let this culture of recognizing teams continue. Many people have campaigned online for years, demanding the Ekushey Padak for Avro. Your demand has been met. The award is a symbol, an occasion for us all to come together once again. ‘Maybe the real treasure was the friends we made along the way’ (Cliché, I know. I used it anyway—because I wanted to!).”
