With instant messaging over WhatsApp and Messenger, letter writing has become a rare thing in this fast-moving world. Yet, the nostalgia for handwritten letters lives on for many. Sajid Hasan, a third-year student at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET) studying Mechanical Engineering, finally found its modern solution: an app called Chithi.me.
The app, launched on 10 November, enables users to compose letters in a digitally old-fashioned manner. Nameless or signed, with truly one-of-a-kind fonts mimicking handwriting on aged paper, the depth of sentiment within is palpable. Sajid recollected, “As a child, I wrote letters to my brother in cadet college. Watching my parents do the same, I developed a fascination for the thoughtfulness and care a letter carries, which I feel is missing in today’s communication.”
There have been similar apps in the past as well but what differentiates this one from the others is the design and the nostalgia it invokes.
The Chithi.me app has already attained more than 150,000 users. Its features include anonymous letters, a feature that has drawn a lot of attention. Sajid explained, “Sometimes we want to express thoughts we can’t share directly. This feature gives users that freedom.” Users can add their names, stay anonymous, or even play the role of a secret admirer, adding a layer of intrigue.
Then there is also the old-school allure of the app. With its four unique fonts mimicking the stroke of a fountain pen and backgrounds resembling vintage paper, it screams traditional letters. “I never used anonymous messaging apps before, but this one feels like stepping into the past,” said user Rafiah Mahmood.
Chithi.me has also avoided the negativity that often accompanies anonymous platforms. Muntaha, a student at Dhaka University, said, “People are taking it seriously because it’s meant for writing meaningful letters on the app. This app is not a venting space like other apps.”
Shockingly, Chithi.me was just a weekend project for Sajid, who hasn’t used the app himself. “I didn’t have any target audience or expectation of it going viral,” he confessed. The overwhelming response has exceeded his imagination.
Although this is an unwieldy load on his servers, Sajid enjoys the feeling derived from bringing so much happiness to people through his app. “It’s amazing to know something I built is a source of happiness for others,” he concluded.