HC refuses to recognise English as second language

A High Court bench today refused to direct the government to take a step for recognising English as the second official language in Bangladesh.

The bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik–Al Jalil dropped the writ petition that sought a directive to this effect from its cause-list.

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The bench said that if such order is passed it will be contradictory to the Bangla Language introduction in 1987. Writ petitioner Moksadul Islam told The Daily Star that he will move the petition before another HC bench later.

A Supreme Court lawyer on April 17 filed a writ petition with the HC, seeking its directive on the government to take all necessary steps to recognise and declare English as the second official language of Bangladesh.

All the education boards use English as a de facto second language, the lawyer said, adding that digital Bangladesh demands English be given its proper status as the second official language, he said in the petition.