The West Bengal government has announced that the use of the Bengali language will be made mandatory in all official work across the state from September 1. The decision was announced in the Legislative Assembly on Monday by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
According to the announcement, Bengali will be given priority in all internal government operations, including official correspondence, notifications, and office orders. However, Hindi may be used alongside Bengali when communicating with the Central Government. All administrative work within the state will primarily be conducted in Bengali.
The Chief Minister said the move is part of a broader effort to promote and strengthen the use of the Bengali language in governance. He stressed that all departments must prioritise Bengali in official communication, particularly in issuing directives and public notices.
The development comes a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Kolkata and inaugurated country’s first language museum, ‘Shabdalok’, at the National Library. During his address, Shah praised the Bengali language, literature and culture, and highlighted the importance of language in shaping civilisation and cultural identity.
Officials indicated that the state government’s decision aligns with the broader push to promote linguistic heritage and improve accessibility of government processes for the general public.
Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose said efforts were already underway to increase the use of Bengali in Assembly proceedings. He noted that there has been a collective push to conduct legislative business in Bengali, with support from the Chief Minister.
The government believes that making Bengali mandatory in administration will help simplify communication, making government services more accessible and easier to understand for citizens across the state.
Also read: Shah inaugurates India’s first language museum in Kolkata
Follow us
