Siliguri, 20th March: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has issued a notice making it mandatory for all signboards, hoardings, and signages to include Bengali alongside any other languages.
Signboards in Siliguri, ranging from shopping malls to major stores and establishments, are often displayed in English and Hindi, with Bengali missing in many cases. In the past, various organizations have protested and demanded the compulsory use of Bengali on signboards across the city.
A few days ago, Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb also emphasized the need for Bengali on signboards. Following this, the SMC has now issued an official press release enforcing the requirement.
As per the directive, Bengali must be included even if other languages are used on signboards and hoardings. The time frame for compliance has been set till April 14. The order applies to shops, companies, shopping malls, offices, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and diagnostic centres. The move has been widely appreciated following the Municipal Corporation’s announcement.