The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has mandated that all commercial establishments in the city display signboards in Bengali alongside other languages, an official announced. The aim is to enforce this rule by February 21, 2025. Municipal Secretary Swapan Kundu stated that discussions are ongoing with business owners to ensure Bengali is used on signboards along with other languages.
In October, TMC Councillor Biswarup Dey proposed that all public and private offices, as well as municipal documents, feature Bengali text in addition to other languages, following the language’s recognition as classical by the Centre.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim also expressed support, stating that while other languages could be used on signboards, Bengali must be included.
A similar initiative was attempted in 2007 by then Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, but it did not materialise.
