UK MP criticises Bengali signage at London station, sparks debate online; Elon Musk reacts
PTC Web Desk: A bilingual signboard at Whitechapel Station in London has sparked controversy after UK MP Rupert Lowe called for station names to be displayed exclusively in English.
Lowe, a Reform UK MP representing Great Yarmouth, posted an image of the English-Bengali signage on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating, "This is London – the station name should be in English, and English only."
His post quickly gained traction, igniting a debate on social media. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who owns X and has been vocal on various political issues, supported Lowe’s view with a succinct response: "Yes." Musk, who has recently shown political alignment with Reform UK, had previously endorsed Lowe for a leadership role in the party.
While some social media users backed the MP’s stance, arguing that public signage in London should remain solely in English, others defended the multilingual display, citing the area’s diverse cultural fabric.
The Bengali signage at Whitechapel Station
The Bengali-language sign at Whitechapel Station was introduced in 2022 as a tribute to the significant contributions of the Bangladeshi community in East London. Funded by Tower Hamlets Council as part of broader infrastructure improvements, the initiative was aimed at acknowledging the cultural and historical influence of the Bengali-speaking population.
Whitechapel is home to the largest Bangladeshi community in the UK, and the signage was widely praised, including by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In 2022, she hailed the move as recognition of Bengali as a “1,000-year-old language” and emphasised the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
- With inputs from agencies
