The Bangla language faces both significant challenges and promising opportunities in the age of digital transformation. As technology becomes an integral part of daily life, the language’s presence in digital spaces has expanded, yet several hurdles remain in ensuring its proper representation and usage. Bangladesh, as a nation with a rich linguistic heritage, must address these issues to preserve and promote Bangla in the digital realm.
There are various challenges in the digital age, the challenges are given below:
One of the foremost challenges is the inadequate digital infrastructure supporting Bangla. Many software programs, applications, and operating systems lack proper Bangla language support, making it difficult for native speakers to interact effectively with digital platforms. While some advancements have been made in font standardization and input methods, inconsistencies still exist across different devices and platforms.
The availability of high-quality digital content in Bangla is still limited. While social media platforms, news websites, and blogs contribute to the language’s online presence, there remains a dearth of academic, scientific, and technical resources in Bangla. This restricts users from accessing vital information in their mother tongue and forces them to rely on English-based resources.
Despite progress in artificial intelligence and machine learning, Bangla remains underrepresented in natural language processing (NLP). Translation services like Google Translate often provide inaccurate or incomplete translations, reflecting the lack of comprehensive language datasets for Bangla. This limits the effectiveness of automated translation tools and digital assistants in serving Bangla-speaking users.
A significant portion of the Bangladeshi population still lacks digital literacy, making it challenging for them to use digital tools effectively. Additionally, many users find Bangla typing cumbersome due to unfamiliarity with Bangla keyboard layouts and transliteration methods. This hampers the widespread use of Bangla in digital communication.
English dominates global digital plat
forms, including social media, academic databases, and software interfaces. As a result, many Bangladeshi users prefer using English over Bangla online, leading to a gradual decline in the digital prominence of the native language. This preference also influences educational and professional communication, further marginalizing Bangla in technical and formal contexts.
The rise of digital media presents an opportunity to expand high-quality Bangla content. Government and private initiatives can invest in translating global knowledge into Bangla, creating educational materials, and developing digital libraries. Encouraging content creators to produce Bangla articles, blogs, and research papers can significantly enhance the language’s digital presence.
Investment in NLP, speech recognition, and machine translation technologies can improve the usability of Bangla in digital spaces. Local universities and tech companies can collaborate on AI-driven projects to develop more sophisticated Bangla language processing tools, benefiting everything from voice assistants to automated translations.
The implementation of Bangla in e-governance services can bridge the digital divide, making government information and services more accessible to all citizens. Ensuring that all official websites, public service portals, and mobile applications support Bangla will enhance civic engagement and digital inclusion.
Initiatives focused on improving digital literacy can empower more people to use Bangla online. Training programs, workshops, and educational curriculums should include Bangla digital literacy components to help users navigate technology in their native language effectively.
Efforts to standardize Bangla typing methods and fonts can make digital communication smoother. Encouraging the use of widely accepted keyboard layouts, such as Avro and Bijoy, while improving mobile input methods, can help users type in Bangla with ease. Furthermore, promoting Unicode-based fonts will ensure better compatibility across different devices and platforms.
The government, in collaboration with academic institutions and the private sector, can implement policies to ensure the growth of Bangla in the digital world. Initiatives like promoting Bangla-language software, funding research on Bangla AI development, and encouraging tech companies to prioritize Bangla support can contribute significantly to the language’s digital evolution.
Bangla’s presence in the digital age is a matter of both concern and opportunity. While several challenges persist, strategic investments and initiatives can help bridge the gap and strengthen the language’s digital footprint. By promoting digital literacy, improving language technology, and expanding Bangla content, Bangladesh can ensure that its mother tongue thrives in the modern digital era. It is imperative for policymakers, educators, and tech developers to work collectively toward preserving and advancing Bangla in the digital landscape.
(The author is Joint News Editor of The New Nation)
