Bashundhara Spice, a brand of the country’s largest business conglomerate Bashundhara Group, on Saturday launched three new Bangla fonts to help create greater creative expressions using Bangla alphabets both in digital and printing platforms. 

The new fonts --- ‘Bashundhara 52', 'Bashundhara 71' and 'Bashundhara 21' --- are inspired by the uniquely crafted characters used in posters, banners, placards, festoons, and newspapers during Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971. 

Besides, authentic features of Bengali culture and folk motifs have also been accommodated in the designs of the fonts. 
With a slogan 'Sangramer Oitjhye Likhi Somoyer Dabi' (We Write the Demand of Time Through the Tradition of Struggle), the fonts were launched at a programme tilted 'Chetonar Bornomala' (Alphabets of Consciousness) at the Abdul Karim Shahitya Bisharad Auditorium of Bangla Academy in the capital on Saturday afternoon.

Bangla Academy Chairperson and celebrated author Selina Hossain, Bangla Academy Director General and renowned poet Nurul Huda and eminent poet and journalist Helal Hafiz launched the fonts.

In a souvenir book published marking the launch of the new Bangla fonts, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan noted, “Bashundhara Group has been working for the welfare of the country and its people for a long time. From the responsibility towards the Bengali language, Bashundhara Group has taken various steps at different times to celebrate and uphold the spirit of the Bengali nation and its rich culture.”

“We have made this effort to fully integrate the uniquely inspired characters during our glorious battle and struggles into the Bengali language in the form of fonts. Let this new font become a daily use of creative and industrious people.... let the Bengali language be known and enriched,” he added.

Bashundhara Group Vice Chairman Shafiat Sobhan said, “The history of the struggle for the rights of Bengali speaking people was written from the language movement of 1952. Their involvement and heroism were written on banners, posters and on the walls of that time.”

“These letters represent our honour and glory. Bashundhara Spice of Bashundhara Group has created three fonts to enrich the Bangla alphabet. We hope that these fonts will be useful to our people and will enrich the Bengali language,” he said.

He also said, “We hope that this small effort will contribute to a greater creative expression and use of the Bengali language. At the same time, our hard work will be successful only if the readers, writers, linguists and all those associated with Bengali language find these new fonts useful.”

Addressing at the front launching ceremony, famous writer and East West Media Group Ltd (EWMGL) Director Imdadul Haq Milan, Bashundhara Group's CEO of Brand and Marketing at Sector A MM Jasim Uddin and the fonts' designer Selim Hossain Shaju were also present on the occasion. 

While expressing his feeling on the occasion, designer Selim Hossain Shaju said, "We tried to create fonts that carry the period of 1952 and 1971. I thank Bashundhara Group for their unconditional support behind these works."

In his welcome address, author and EWMGL Director Imdadul Haq Milan said, "This kind of good works cannot be materialised without proper patronisation. Bashundhara Group always stands by the people who do good work. I, on behalf of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, express my gratitude to all of you for attending this programme."

After launching the 'Bashundhara 52' font, Bangla Academy Chairperson Selina Hossain said, "These fonts have created a great opportunity to introduce our glorious history to the new generation. I urge all to use these fonts."

Bangla Academy Director General and Poet Nurul Huda launched the font 'Bashundhara 71'. He said, "Each of the alphabets is the life of Bangalis. I thank Selim Hossain Shaju and Bashundhara Group for this great initiative." 

"On this occasion, I recall all the designers who shaped Bangla fonts to preserve the language. I believe that the legacy of our history will live forever," he added.

Launching the 'Bashundhara 21' font, poet Helal Hafiz said, "Designer Selim Hossain Shaju and Bashundhara Group's love for language is commendable. I am delighted to attend the launching of these Bangla fonts."

Helal Hafiz also recited three short poems 'Shap', 'Tabij' and 'Potro Pathalam' which he brought with him after writing those using the three newly introduced Bangla fonts.

Addressing the event, Bashundhara Group CEO of Brand and Marketing of Sector A MM Jasim Uddin came shared the story behind the initiative. 

"When we developed these fonts we didn't think of any business interest, rather we wanted to add some characteristics to the look of Bangla fonts in digital platforms," he said. 

"Amar Ekushey Book Fair will begin on February 15. Thousands of books will be published where you will find some common fonts. These new fonts will encourage our writers and publishers," he added.

Responding to poet Helal Hafiz's request, he declared that Bashundhara Group will try to bring more new Bangla fonts in remembrance of 69 (the year 1969 to mark the Mass Uprising).

The launching ceremony turned into a reunion of poets, novelists, researchers, publishers and cultural enthusiasts.

Poets, novelists, translators, publishers and educationists including Raju Alauddin, Shoaib Jibran, Chanchal Ashraf, Hamim Kamal, Moni Haider, Lopa Momtaz, Alfred Khokon and Anisuzzaman Sohel, among other distinguished personalities, attended the programme anchored by Galumgiri Sangha chief coordinator poet Shimul Salahuddin.

BDST: 2130 HRS, FEB 12, 2022
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