Spelling Errors on Ekushey Placards: Bangladesh Turned into ‘Lash’

CU Correspondent

In an unfortunate incident, multiple spelling errors on placards displayed at the Shaheed Minar of the University of Chittagong (CU) on the occasion of International Mother Language Day and Ekushey February have sparked widespread criticism on social media. The poor presentation of the Bengali language, for which so many sacrifices were made, has deeply saddened language-conscious citizens and highlighted the declining standards of education and knowledge among the younger generation.

To pay tribute to the language martyrs, the university administration had put up several placards. However, crucial words like “Bangladesh,” “February,” and “Shaheed” were misspelled. For instance, “Bangladesh” was written as “Banglasher” on one of the placards. Netizens on social media have drawn parallels between this error and the current state of the country, suggesting that the placard inadvertently reflects the ongoing crisis, with some even interpreting it as a metaphor for the “procession of corpses” (lash).

Students of the university have expressed their disappointment, stating that such spelling mistakes are unforgivable in an event commemorating the sacrifices of language martyrs. Farzana, a student from the Biochemistry Department of CU’s 2021-22 academic year, said, “This is not just a shame for the university but for every Bengali-speaking person. My head hangs in shame after seeing this.”

Regarding the spelling errors, CU’s Proctor, Professor Dr. Tanvir Haider Arif, said, “The mistake was unintentional. The university’s engineering office had taken permission to create the placards for the Shaheed Minar. However, as soon as the spelling errors came to our notice, the Proctorial Body removed them. We are investigating whether this was intentional, and appropriate action will be taken.”

The incident has triggered strong reactions on social media, with students urging the university administration to be more responsible to prevent such mistakes in the future.

It is worth noting that similar incidents have occurred before. At the Bangla Academy Book Fair, spelling errors and fabricated images on placards, posters, and banners led to widespread criticism, and those responsible for printing were blamed. Additionally, during the Victory Fair in Chittagong, a poster by the District Council replaced the images of brave freedom fighters with that of Abu Sayeed, drawing severe backlash. Government publications have also faced criticism for depicting a clenched fist with six fingers, which sparked widespread outrage.