Dhaka: Bangladeshi volunteers added 4 lakh Bangla words in Google Translate, a free online language translation service, on 26 March, Independence and National Day of the country, aiming to enrich Bangla language.

The word entry session began at Bangladesh Computer Council Auditorium at about 11:00am on Thursday.

Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) executive director SM Ashraful Islam, joint secretary Mohammad Harunur Rashid, Google Developer Group Bangla (GDG Bangla) chief advisor Munir Hassan and community manager Jabed Sultan Pias were present during the inauguration of word contribution session, entitled ‘Four Lakh for Bangla’.

Bangladesh Information and Communication Technology division, GDG Bangla and BCC organised the programme.

The organisers hoped the initiative of adding Bangla words to Google Translate will expand the use of Bangla Language all over the world.

After setting the online record by adding 4 lakh Bangla words, another endeavour will be taken till 14 April, also the first day of Bangla Year. The highest words contributor will be rewarded with the chance to visit Google office at Singapore.

Moreover, volunteers who contribute more than a thousand words will receive Google Electronic Certificate.

Bangladesh Open Source Network general secretary Munir Hossain said anyone can contribute new words and sentences in this link anytime.

GDG Bangla chief advisor Munir Hossain said ‘Around four thousand people over the country has been directly participated in our programmes. Around a thousand volunteers worked with us to organise several events under this initiative.’

More than 500 students from different universities joined in the word contribution move from 81locations of Bangladesh, said the chief advisor.

Volunteers from Australia, Portugal, the USA, the UK and other countries also played a part to the effort.