The Ministry of Information has served a notice to Robi Axiata Limited, seeking its explanation in seven working days, for using Rabindranath Tagore's image instead of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam in a social media post dedicated to the latter on his birth anniversary.

The post was later removed from the page after public outrage.

The notice was sent to the company yesterday. Earlier, the poet's family also served a legal notice on Robi Axiata in this connection.

Expressing concern in the notice, the ministry said, "On May 25, 11th of Jaishtha, the Facebook page of 'Robi Telecom' shared a post dedicated to National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on his birth anniversary. The post, however, used an image of Rabindranath Tagore instead of Kazi Nazrul Islam. Also, it included some lines from a song penned by the National Poet where there were multiple errors. By publishing such an offensive post, 'Robi Telecom' has tarnished the image of two noted poets of Bangla literature. The entire nation is offended by such activity by 'Robi Telecom'."   

The notice asked the company to come up with an explanation in this regard within seven working days.

Referring to the ministry's notice, the poet's grand-daughter Khilkhil Kazi lauded the ministry for taking steps to this end.