The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has introduced a new rule that all businesses in the city must include Bengali on their signboards, along with any other languages. The goal is to make Bengali more visible in public places and encourage its use in everyday life. Businesses have until February 21, 2025, to follow this rule.

Why is Bengali being promoted?

According to Swapan Kundu, the municipal secretary, the KMC is working closely with shops, restaurants, and business owners to help them display their names and information in Bengali in addition to other languages. This initiative is in line with a proposal made by TMC Councillor Biswarup Dey in October.

They suggested that all signboards in public and private offices should feature Bengali text. He also recommended that the KMC publish all official documents in Bengali. This proposal came after the Indian government recognized Bengali as a classical language in October, alongside Assamese, Marathi, Pali, and Prakrit.

Support from local leaders

KMC Mayor Firhad Hakim has expressed his support for the initiative, stating, "I have nothing against the use of Hindi, English, or other languages, but Bengali should also be there along with the others." He also plans to encourage private businesses and advertising agencies to adopt this practice.

This isn't the first time such a rule has been proposed. In 2007, then-Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya issued a similar directive, but it was not fully implemented.