Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb on Thursday set September 21 as the last date for commercial and other establishments located across the city to put up display boards in Bengali.
This year Mahalaya is on September 21.
“People from different communities have been living in Siliguri for years. We respect every language, but since Bengali is the official language of our state, we want all establishments in the city to put up display boards in Bengali along with other languages by September 21,” Deb said.
He was speaking at a meeting organised with trade organisations and associations at Ramkinkar Hall at Deenbandhu Manch.
The mayor further said, “I appreciate the people from various organisations who attended the meeting here, spontaneously supported the issue and supported the civic body’s appeal.”
The decision to install display boards in Bengali was taken at a meeting of the Mayor-in-Council members of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) on March 29.
In April, it was approved at the monthly board meeting of the SMC councillors.
“It was decided in the meeting to implement the order by June this year. However, representatives of trade associations requested the mayor to extend the date, following which he set the new deadline of Mahalaya,” a source said.
BJP councillor and leader of opposition in the civic body Amit Jain, who was present at the meeting, welcomed the decision.
“Bengali language has always been a priority in our state. We welcome the decision taken by the present municipal board,” Jain said.
