[Indic-computing-users] Bangla... language issues

[Frederick N. <fr...@by...>]

Very interesting debate from the Bangladesh GNU/Linux users group. Would
friends like Dasu have other perspectives on this? Tks, FN

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Message: 1
   Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 21:57:30 -0000
   From: "Sajed Chowdhury" <sr...@ac...>
Subject: Re: Learning about Bangladesh

Fred,

If you were to ask a related question, "why isn't Linux more popular
in Bangladesh?" then the answer would be:

http://www.mustafajabbar.net/ (warning: flash plugin required)

To elaborate, the most popular method of writing Bangla text runs only
on windows, and when someone refers to a "bangla file" they are
actually referring to a microsoft word document embedded with a
(copyrighted) bangla font.  As such it is impossible to work with such
a "bangla file" under Linux (without resorting to vmware or codeweaver
crossover plugin).

I would identify this to be the most significant road-block relating
to more widespead adoption of Linux (or any other non-windows os for
that matter) on the desktop in Bangladesh.

Sincerely,

Sajed

Frederick Noronha wrote:
> Could anyone point out some interesting uses of GNU/Linux in
Bangladeshi
> projects? Thanks a lot... I'm trying to possibly include this in
some
> writeup. FN
> --
> Frederick Noronha * Freelance Journalist * Goa * India 832.409490 /
409783
> BYTESFORALL www.bytesforall.org  * GNU-LINUX
http://linuxinindia.pitas.com
> Email fred@b... * Mobile +9822 122436 (Goa) * Saligao Goa India
> Writing with a difference... on what makes *the* difference

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Message: 6
   Date: Sun, 10 Nov 2002 05:29:04 -0500 (EST)
   From: Taneem Ahmed <ta...@ey...>
Subject: Re: Re: Learning about Bangladesh

On Sat, 9 Nov 2002, Sajed Chowdhury wrote:

> Fred,
> 
> If you were to ask a related question, "why isn't Linux more popular
> in Bangladesh?" then the answer would be:
> 
> http://www.mustafajabbar.net/ (warning: flash plugin required)

To me, this is like asking someone to visit www.microsoft.com to find out
why any other OS beside M$ Windows is not good. Give me a break.
 
> To elaborate, the most popular method of writing Bangla text runs only
> on windows, and when someone refers to a "bangla file" they are
> actually referring to a microsoft word document embedded with a
> (copyrighted) bangla font.  As such it is impossible to work with such
> a "bangla file" under Linux (without resorting to vmware or codeweaver
> crossover plugin).

Popular method of writing Bangla text??? Do they use something beside a
keyboard to do that? This is crazy. For Linux we already have support to
create Banga documents using a world wide accepted and recognized
standard, yet we won't use it. Anyway, from the limited experience I
gained trying to help support Bangla on linux I am just amazed to see that
one person is holding a nation hostage, and all everyone can do is agree
with whatever propaganda is being spread. And this is not only for Linux.
Even for windows I have seen programs that uses Unicode standards, but we
just won't use it.

> I would identify this to be the most significant road-block relating
> to more widespead adoption of Linux (or any other non-windows os for
> that matter) on the desktop in Bangladesh.

I am sorry I don't agree with that at all, to me the *only* road-block we
have is not knowing what is out there. Maybe we should first start with
the fact that *microsoft word* is not the only way of creating documents.


Taneem


There should be a better way to start a day than waking up every morning

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