In a momentous tribute to International Mother Language Day, three cutting-edge AI-based Bangla language solutions were unveiled on Wednesday. The revolutionary software includes Bangla Text to Speech – “Uchcharon,” Bangla Speech to Text – “Kotha,” and Bengali OCR “Borna,” marking a significant leap in language technology.
The launch event, held at the BCC Auditorium in Dhaka, saw the State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, introducing these groundbreaking innovations. Alongside the language software, a new Bangla font, “Purno,” also embarked on its journey during the celebration.
During the event, Minister Palak also inaugurated e-SIM for Teltalk, highlighting the government’s commitment to advancing technology in various sectors.
Minister Palak emphasized the historic significance of the software launch, stating that it adds a new dimension to the development of the Bangla language, benefiting the 35 crore Bangla-speaking population worldwide. He credited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership in utilizing smart technology for this advancement.
Celebrating February 21 as a proud segment of national history, Minister Palak acknowledged its importance in the development of art, literature, and culture.
Breaking Down the Innovations:
- Uchcharon (Bangla Text to Speech): A revolutionary TTS software, converting text into spoken words. It caters to diverse applications, reading text in documents, websites, and screen windows. With both male and female voices, it also aids the visually impaired. Accessible at read.bangla.gov.bd.
- Kotha (Bangla Speech to Text): This Bengali voice typing software seamlessly transforms spoken Bengali words into clear and accurate text, even recording major punctuation marks. Available as a web application at voice.bangla.gov.bd, it’s also integrated into the Keyboard Android app developed by the project.
- Borna (Bengali OCR): An Optical Character Recognition (OCR) named “Barna,” it converts uneditable text in computer documents into editable text. Particularly adept at converting Bangla text in PDF or JPEG files into editable formats, bridging the gap between traditional and digital text.
These innovative solutions promise to elevate language technology, opening new avenues for the dynamic Bangla-speaking community worldwide.
