This howto is not intended to explain how to create a locale definition file, we will just explain how to use the Bengali locale definition on Linux. In this howto, we will use the bn_BD definition file, which is for Bangladeshi Bengali. However, the Indian Bengali definition file, i.e. bn_IN, can be used in the same manner.

The bn_BD file should come with the latest glibc package. in case you have an older glibc, you can download this file from the download section of Ankur's web page.

• Make sure you have some Unicode encoded Bengali fonts installed on your system. Check the download section if you need one.
• Now issue the following command as root:

                    localedef -c -f UTF-8 -i bn_BD bn_BD.UTF-8

  This makes your system ready to be used with bn_BD locale definition.
• Now make sure your X server is ready for Bengali locale. Check the following file in directory

  /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/locale

  • locale.dir: This file should have the following two lines:

                    en_US.UTF-8/XLC_LOCALE       bn_BD.UTF-8
                    en_US.UTF-8/XLC_LOCALE:      bn_BD.UTF-8
       

Now your system is ready to use bn_BD.UTF-8 locale. For example, I use the following command to open up an xterm with my own crappy font:

 LC_ALL=bn_BD.UTF-8 xterm -fn "-misc-Probhat-medium-r-normal--0-0-0-0-p-0-iso10646-1" -u8

Please send any comments you have so we can make this HOWTO more helpful.