Dhaka: The High Court on Thursday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why directives should not be given for taking legal action against beverage company Coca-Cola for using offensive Bangla words in its advertisement.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader issued the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Chandan Chandra Sarkar on February 27, seeking a restriction on the use of the offensive words in Coca-Cola’s advertisement, reports the UNB.

The bench issued another rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why the use of offensive words in the advertisement should not be declared illegal.

The secretaries to the Ministers of Information, Industries, Cultural Affairs, Law, Education, Home and the director general of Bangla Academy, IGP and managing director of International Beverages Private Limited (Coca-Cola) have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in four weeks.

Advocate Maniruzzman Rana, who stood for the petitioner, said the Bangla words, which are used in Coco-Cola campaign, are objectionable and children are also getting used to these words.