DHAKA: The High Court (HC) Tuesday has given time till May 15 to government for using Bangla in all advertisements in the electronic media, vehicle number plates and electronic signboards.

A HC bench comprising Justice Kazi Reza-ul-Huq and ABM Altaf Hossain passed the order.   

Earlier on February 17, the High Court ordered the government to switch to Bengali in all advertisements in the electronic media, vehicle number plates and signboards within a month.

A HC bench of Justice Kazi Reza-ul-Huq and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain issued the directive in a public interest case argued by lawyer Eunus Ali Akond.

The court issued rule upon the government why its failure to implement ‘Bangla Bhasha Prochalon Ain, 1987’ should not be declared illegal and why the government should not be directed to enforce use of the Bengali language in all offices and courts and to publish or issue circular of necessary rules  under section 4 of the aforementioned law.

Cabinet secretary, Law secretary, Cultural Secretary, Home Secretary, Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Bangla Academy and Supreme Court had asked to explain within two weeks.                                                           

According to article 3 of the constitution, the state language of the Republic is Bangla. (Substituted for the word `Bengali` by the Constitution (Eighth Amendment) Act, 1988, section 3)” Akond said after filing the petition.  

BDST: 1403 HRS, APR 29, 2014