Dr. Susan Vize, UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, visited the Multilingual Cloud initiative on Thursday, 7 May 2026, to discuss indigenous language preservation, technology-driven education, and future collaboration opportunities.

The meeting, which took place in Dhaka, was attended by Project Director Md. Mahbub Karim and Project Consultant Mamun Rashid. During the session, the team demonstrated the Multilingual Cloud (multiling.cloud), an indigenous language archive and digital language preservation platform under the EBLICT Project run by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and the ICT Division.

Advancing Digital Inclusion for Indigenous Communities

The delegation was also introduced to UBoard, a multilingual Android keyboard supporting multiple Bangladeshi indigenous languages including Chakma, Santali, Marma, and others. Discussions focused on the importance of accessible digital tools and localized technologies for preserving indigenous languages and supporting inclusive education.

UNESCO shared details about its upcoming initiative focused on indigenous community schooling and the development of educational materials in native languages. The discussion included possible technical collaboration, knowledge transfer, and support from the Multilingual Cloud team for the initiative.

Exploring Future Collaborations

Dr. Susan Vize expressed strong interest in exploring collaboration opportunities in the upcoming phases of the Multilingual Cloud platform. The visit highlighted the potential for a long-term partnership in the fields of indigenous language preservation, digital inclusion, and mother tongue-based education.

As part of the visit, a commemorative souvenir was presented to Dr. Susan Vize, while she gifted the team a UNESCO publication on indigenous languages. The meeting concluded with a luncheon, marking a promising step toward strengthening international collaboration for the protection of linguistic diversity in Bangladesh.