Once the Bangla interface is developed, operating system -- Windows -- and other application software will be available in Bangla. The announcement much to the delight of Bangladesh came when the world's largest IT service company opened an office in Dhaka on Monday.

"Presently, three Bangla characters are missing in uni-code. We are working on it and likely to incorporate it within six months and developing other Bangla interfaces in other application software may require six more months," said Faycal Bouchlaghem, business development director for Emerging Markets, Microsoft Asia Pacific.

In an interview with The Daily Star on Monday in Dhaka, he said Microsoft believes in localisation of its products and presently it has developed its products in over 60 languages. The wider technology localisation makes its products more user-friendly worldwide.

In India, Microsoft has products in more than one language, he added. Availability of Bangla version will make it easier for Bangladeshis to use Microsoft products.

On company's strategy to combat software piracy in Bangladesh, he said Microsoft will work with government and the private sector to improve practice of intellectual property rights (IPR).

He, however, said Microsoft's arrival here is not directly related with implementation of IPR in Bangladesh.

"All stakeholders should join hands for a strong IPR practice for the sake of growth in IT industry of Bangladesh," said the Tunisian national, now at the helm of Singapore-headquartered Asia Pacific office.

"Advantage of software development is that it does not need much investment, it's all about brain work and smart people what Bangladesh is filled with. So, Bangladesh holds good prospect in the sector. But weak IPR compliance is failing the sector to take off in a big way," Bouchlaghem pointed out.

"If anyone architects a software and ends up selling only one copy only to be pirated in the market, nobody will be interested to stay in the business," he explained adding the success of Singapore and India in IT sector is because of strong IPR implementation.

"Primarily, we will focus on IT education in educational institutions, helping local IT firms and supporting government for introducing e-governance and other digital activities," Bouchlaghem said.

"We will conduct study on market and fix package charge for our products for education, government and corporate clients. Economic conditions of Bangladeshi people will be taken into account in this regard. People will pay what they can. We will offer our technology at an affordable price here," said the head of Microsoft's Asia Pacific office covering 14 countries.

Asked about whether the company will hire local hands in its outsourcing bid, Bouchlaghem said the company may first train students and teachers in different levels to equip them with latest technologies and then it may directly involve local IT professionals.

He said Microsoft can also help government to introduce machine readable passport and national ID for citizens and other e-governance activities.