• Source:JND
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Kolkata: In a bold move to uphold Bengal’s linguistic identity, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has issued a circular mandating that all businesses, commercial institutions, and shops across the city must display signboards prominently in Bengali, ensuring that the state’s official language is given primary visibility over all signage.

In a circular dated August 30, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation reaffirmed that Bengali must be on all hoardings, signboards and other displays. Unlike earlier advisories, this order is not optional but mandatory, and businesses have until September 30 to comply with the order.

“It is hereby reiterated that all such signage must have Bengali displayed at the top in a prominent size in addition to other languages, if any, in the public interest. This shall be complied with by 30th September, 2025,” the directive read.

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The order follows an earlier directive dated December 20, 2024, in which the civic body requested the inclusion of Bengali on all signboards. The instructions were largely ignored, with several businesses continuing to prioritise Hindi, English and other languages on signboards. Now, the KMC has made it mandatory and has warned that non-compliance could lead to punitive measures.

Earlier this year, the language issue stirred debate within the civic body itself. The Mayor criticised a Trinamool Congress councillor for asking a question in English during an official meeting. In response, KMC Chairperson Mala Roy directed that all official discussions should be conducted in Bengali, and instructions were issued that questions at official meetings should be posed in the state’s official language going forward.

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The latest directive by the civic body mandates that the Bengali language in all hoardings, signboards and other displays must be placed ‘at the top’ over all signage and in ‘prominent size’. According to officials, it is not just a visual preference but a necessary step in upholding cultural identity.