Bengali made mandatory on signboards, Kolkata shops begin compliance
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Kolkata: Shopkeepers and businesses in Kolkata have started changing their signboards after the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) issued a circular making it compulsory to display names in Bengali.
The directive states that all establishments within the KMC area must write their names in Bengali, with the language placed at the top of all hoardings and signboards. The order was approved by Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim and issued by Municipal Commissioner Dhaval Jain on Saturday.
The move comes against the backdrop of the Mamata Banerjee government’s campaign to uphold the identity and pride of the Bengali language and to counter alleged harassment of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.
Although the KMC had earlier, on December 30, requested shopkeepers to include Bengali on their signboards, compliance was found lacking. This time, the corporation has made it mandatory, setting a deadline for implementation within the month.
The order makes it clear that Bengali must appear at the top of every signboard, rather than alongside other languages. It applies to all businesses, offices, institutions, and municipal gatherings.
The push for Bengali has also been reflected in KMC meetings, where Chairman Mala Roy directed councilors to speak in the language. Recently, Mayor Hakim even warned that trade licenses of shops could be cancelled if signboards were not displayed in Bengali.
