On the first day of the extended Budget Session, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced in the Assembly that starting September 1, Bengali will be the official language in all government departments in West Bengal. This decision follows a letter from Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his recent visit to the state, suggesting increased use of Bengali in official operations.
Adhikari stated that the state government will need time to implement this change and will begin the process on September 1. Bengali will be incorporated in official correspondence, notifications, and even police communications. The Chief Minister emphasized that the government will ensure all necessary translations are completed within the next one and a half months to facilitate this transition.
During a function in Kolkata, Adhikari disclosed that Home Minister Shah had recommended steps to promote the use of Bengali. Adhikari refrained from revealing the letter’s contents initially, promising to share them with the House on Monday. True to his word, he unveiled the letter at the start of the session, confirming the decision to enforce Bengali as a mandatory language in all state government departments from September 1.
