The Cultural Affairs Ministry has decided to confer the prestigious Ekushey Padak on all four members of Team Avro—Mehdi Hasan Khan, Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam Siam, and Shabab Mustafa—for their groundbreaking creation of the Avro Keyboard.
This innovation has enabled millions worldwide to write Bangla online effortlessly, revolutionising digital communication in the language.
Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki revealed that the decision to honour the entire team came after consultations with Mehdi Hasan Khan, who initially expressed reluctance to accept the award individually. "We were aware that Mehdi Hasan Khan was hesitant to receive the award alone, given the significant contributions of his three teammates," said Farooki in a Facebook post.
He explained, "Today, we can openly acknowledge Mehdi's initial reluctance. Despite knowing he might decline, we announced the award through our cabinet intentionally—to highlight the kind of individuals we celebrate."
Farooki further noted that during discussions with Mehdi, the developer iterated his stance: "He agreed to accept the honour but insisted it not be conferred solely on him. Instead, he wished to share this recognition with Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam Siam, and Shabab Mustafa, whose roles were equally crucial in developing Avro."
In announcing the group recognition, Farooki emphasised the importance of acknowledging teamwork and perseverance. "We are thrilled to recognise these four remarkable individuals collectively with the Ekushey Padak. Their efforts defy convention and have left an indelible mark on how Bangla is written digitally. This award is a testament to their extraordinary contribution."
All four recipients will travel to Bangladesh from various parts of the world to personally receive the award. Expressing excitement about their arrival, Farooki concluded, "Can't wait to welcome you all. I am sure this is going to inspire a lot of young people to move forward no matter what! Bangladesh, onwards and upwards!"
On February 6, Farooki had announced the names of 14 distinguished individuals and the Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team as recipients of the Ekushey Padak 2025, the country’s second-highest civilian award, in recognition of their contributions across various fields.
In the language and literature category, Poet Helal Hafiz and fiction writer Shahidul Jahir have been posthumously nominated.
In film, acclaimed director Azizur Rahman has been honoured posthumously.
The music category includes Ustad Nirad Baran Barua and Ferdous Ara.
Nasir Ali Mamun has been nominated in photography, while Rokeya Sultana is recognised in painting.
For journalism, Mahfuz Ullah has been posthumously honoured, while Mahmudur Rahman has been recognised for both journalism and human rights.
In the culture and education category, Dr Shahidul Alam has been nominated, while Dr Niaz Zaman has been honoured in education.
Mohammad Yusuf Chowdhury has been posthumously recognized for social service.
Maidul Hasan has been nominated in the research category, and the Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team has been selected for sports.
Farooki then also announced Mehdi Hasan Khan as the recipient in the science and technology category.
Each awardee will receive Tk 4 lakh, a gold medal, a replica, and a certificate of honour.