Report on steps to ensure Bangla in media ads

The High Court yesterday ordered the government to submit a report to it by May 27 on the steps taken to ensure Bangla language in advertisements of media and on vehicles' registration plates, signboards and billboards.

Cabinet and information secretaries have to mention in the report whether there is any legal provision for English advertisements dubbed in Banlga by electronic media in the country, Deputy Attorney General Tapash Kumar Biswas told The Daily Star.

He said the HC yesterday did not say anything about using English advertisements by print media, particularly English newspapers. 

During hearing a rule issued on February 17 last year, the HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman fixed May 27 for passing a further order, said Tapash.

On that day, the HC following a writ petition issued the rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to make Bangla mandatory in all sectors, including offices and courts, as per Bangla Language Introduction Act, 1987.

It also directed the government to take necessary measures in a month to ensure Bangla in all advertisements of electronic and print media and also on the nameplates of vehicles' registration, signboards and billboards in the country.