DNCC starts drive to remove signboards in English

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has started a drive against signboards and nameplates in English language instead of Bangla in the capital's Rampura and Gulshan areas. DNCC executive magistrates Tazwar Akram Sakapi Ibne Sazzad and Abdullah Al Baki are leading the drives on Thursday. Sazzad told reporters that they began the drive at Rampura to ensure signboards and nameplates in Bangla.

He added they will continue the drive throughout the day. ASM Mamun, public relations officer of DNCC, said they conducted this kind of drive earlier as per the instruction of the High Court. He said the High Court made the use of Bangla language compulsory in every signboard, billboard, nameplate and banner except at embassies, foreign agencies years ago.

Local government division at that time had given instruction to the DNCC to follow the order, he said. DNCC had given public advertisements in this regard many times and also conducted drives, he said. On May 28, 2014, the High Court asked the government to take measures to implement its directive on using Bangla in all advertisements, nameplates, and signboards.

Academic Sirajul Islam Chowdhury thinks: “This drive should not be conducted only to mark the month of the language movement. The city corporation initiative to remove billboards in English should continue after the month of February. The use of Bangla should be mandatory in all sectors.”