The High Court has issued a rule asking why distortion of Bangla words by beverage company Coca-Cola won’t be declared illegal.

The rule, issued by the bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahsan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader on Thursday (Mar 14), also asked why punitive measures won’t be taken against people involved with the campaign.

Hearing a writ in this regard, the HC bench has ordered nine including secretaries to the law, information and education ministries, Bangla Academy’s director general, and the beverage company to respond within four weeks.

Md Moniruzzaman Rana stood for the writ during Thursday’s hearing, while Coca-Cola was represented by Mostafizur Rahman.

Deputy Attorney General Barrister ABM Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar moved for the State.

On Mar 11, the same high court bench said that Coca-Cola distorted Bangla words through its campaign, titled “Nikhoj Shobder Khoje”.

The campaign was conducted throughout February hoping to revive some of the once widely used Bengali words that are in the danger of being forgotten.

During the campaign, the company received a total of 5,500 word submissions nominated as Bengali words and finalises 336 words.

During Mar 11 hearing the HC bench told Coca-Cola’s lawyer, “The Bangla words printed on the labels of Coca-Cola bottles are offensive and dishonour the Bangla Language.”

“Such words cannot be considered Bangla words because they discredit the language,” the court said.