The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) celebrated Universal Acceptance Day 2025 on Tuesday, highlighting the importance of digital inclusivity and language diversity in today's interconnected world, reports BSS.
In collaboration with the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the event featured a technical workshop and a special conference at BTRC headquarters. Stakeholders from government, private sector, and academia attended to discuss the challenges and opportunities of a multilingual internet.
One of the major highlights of the day was the launch of BTRC’s new website and email services under the “btrc.bangla” domain, marking a step forward in promoting local language use online.
In his opening remarks, BTRC Director General (Engineering and Operations) Brig Gen Shafiul Azam Parvez emphasized the significance of Universal Acceptance in building a more inclusive digital space. BIGF Secretary General Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu called for continued collaboration to expand dot bangla usage and promote language equity online.
Keynote speaker Dr. Mohammad Mamunur Rashid, Associate Professor at Jahangirnagar University, noted that nearly half of internet content is in English, despite only 16% of the global population being native English speakers. He stressed the need for AI tools, interfaces, and content in Bangla to bridge the digital language divide.
BTRC Deputy Director Dr. Shamsujoha discussed the technical landscape of Universal Acceptance and the upcoming expansion of top-level domains expected in 2026. He encouraged public-private initiatives to strengthen local digital infrastructure.
Speaking virtually, Sameeran Gupta, ICANN’s Asia-Pacific Vice President, reaffirmed ICANN’s support for Bangladesh’s multilingual internet push, while ICANN Board Director Sajid Rahman highlighted the internet’s original vision to unite, not divide—especially linguistically.
BTCL’s Mustafa Al Mamun and Amber IT’s Mahfuzur Rahman addressed technical challenges of supporting multilingual use, underscoring the need for further development and innovation.
In his speech, BTRC Chairman Major Gen (Retd) Md. Emdad-ul-Bari emphasized the importance of communicating in one’s mother tongue and the need to ensure equitable access to the internet for all. He praised the event as a vital step toward bridging the digital divide and empowering local communities through inclusive technology.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
