Bengali input methods

Bengali input methods refer to different systems developed to type Bengali language characters using a typewriter or a computer keyboard.

With the advent of graphical user interfaces and word processing in the 1980s, a number of computer typing systems for Bengali were created. Most of these were originally based on Apple Macintosh systems.

Bangla Jatiyo (National) (জাতীয় Jatiyo) Keyboard layout developed by Bangladesh Computer Council, is currently the most popular layout and is addressed as the standard layout. This layout is widely used as official layout in Bangladesh.

This keyboard layout is designed in order to type all the indic scripts with a uniform layout on computer. This layout is officially accepted by Microsoft Corporation and is provided by default in their Windows operating system. This layout is mainly popular in India.

প্রভাত Probhat is a free Unicode-based Bengali fixed layout. is included in almost all Linux OS(s). Its key mapping is similar to Phonetic pattern but typing method is fully Fixed.

Ananda Computers, owned by Mustafa Jabbar marketed the Bijoy (বিজয়) keyboard layout in 1988. This is the most popular keyboard layout in Bangladesh. Bijoy is a proprietary, ASCII-Unicode based Bengali input software and requires purchase of a license to use on every computer.

Akkhor অক্ষর ôkkhôr Bangla Software, developed by Khan Md. Anwarus Salam, was first released on 1 January 2003 for free. Akkhor implemented first Bengali transliteration system for Bengali. The free Unicode/ANSI-based Akkhor Keyboard has support for Akkhor Phonetic, National (Jatiyo) fixed keyboard layouts. Akkhor also provided customization feature for designing fixed keyboard layouts. It provides Keyboard Manager which works system wide and also provide independent Akkhor Word processor.

Avro Keyboard (অভ্র কী-বোর্ড), developed by Mehdi Hasan Khan, was first released on 26 March 2003 for free. It facilitates both fixed and phonetic layouts. Avro phonetic allows a user to write Bengali by typing the phonetic formation of the words in English language keyboards. It is the most popular and widely used Bengali input system especially by the diaspora who do not have access to a physical Bengali keyboard.

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