The BJP-led government in West Bengal has formally begun removing the “Biswa Bangla” logo — the signature emblem introduced during the tenure of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — from official platforms and public infrastructure across the state.
The logo, which for over a decade served as the visual identity of the Trinamool Congress-led administration, is now being replaced with India’s national emblem, the Ashoka Stambh, at several prominent locations. One of the most visible changes has taken place at Salt Lake Stadium, where the “Biswa Bangla” signage has been removed and replaced with the national emblem.
The rebranding exercise has also extended to the state government’s digital platforms. The “Egiye Bangla” portal, which hosts links to multiple government departments and services, now features the Ashoka Stambh in place of the Biswa Bangla logo. The portal’s visual theme has also undergone a noticeable transformation, with the earlier white-and-blue colour scheme replaced by saffron accents after the BJP government assumed office.
Launched on September 16, 2013, the Biswa Bangla brand was conceived as a symbol representing Bengal’s cultural identity, tourism, traditional arts and handicrafts. The logo, designed around the Bengali letter “B”, gradually became the official branding symbol across government websites, infrastructure projects, official correspondence and beautification initiatives during the Trinamool Congress regime.
The updated Egiye Bangla portal now displays a white background carrying the Ashoka emblem along with a photograph of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Departmental icons related to e-services, tourism, business, industry and agriculture have also been redesigned using saffron-themed graphics.
BJP leaders have defended the decision, arguing that a logo created by an individual should not function as the primary identity of a state government. Party leaders maintained that the Ashoka emblem remains the highest and most appropriate symbol for official government use.
The “Biswa Bangla” logo had earlier been at the centre of a political controversy in 2017 when former BJP MLA Mukul Roy alleged that the logo was privately owned and not a government entity. The allegations were denied by Abhishek Banerjee, while Mamata Banerjee later clarified in the Assembly that she had personally created the logo and allowed the state government to use it without charging royalty.
For nearly 13 years, the Biswa Bangla emblem remained deeply associated with the Trinamool Congress government’s identity and public outreach. Soon after the BJP government took oath, however, the logo began disappearing from official systems and state-controlled platforms, marking a symbolic shift in Bengal’s political and administrative branding.
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Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
May 17, 2026 04:50 IST
