DHAKA: The High Court on Monday 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 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 were asked to explain within two weeks.                                                      

Earlier on Sunday, Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking a directive to authorities to enforce use of the Bengali language in all offices and courts, including the Supreme Court.    
                                
Cabinet secretary, Law secretary, Cultural Secretary, Home Secretary, Vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, Bangla Academy and Supreme Court were made defendants.

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: 1222 HRS, FEB 17, 2014