The Indian government has called on Bangladesh to reconsider the ongoing demolition of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home in Mymensingh.
The Centre has offered assistance in restoring the property as a literary museum that celebrates the shared cultural legacy of both nations.
The historic house, originally built by Ray’s grandfather and renowned Bengali writer Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, is reportedly being razed to make way for a new semi-concrete structure. Local media, including Daily Star, reported that the building - formerly used as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy - has fallen into neglect and is now being cleared for reconstruction.
In a statement on Tuesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep regret over the demolition. “We note with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished,” the ministry said.
Acknowledging the deteriorated condition of the building, the MEA stressed its cultural significance, calling it a landmark of the Bengal Renaissance.
“Given the building’s landmark status, symbolising Bangla cultural renaissance, it would be preferable to reconsider the demolition and examine options for its repair and reconstruction as a museum of literature and a symbol of the shared culture of India and Bangladesh. The Government of India would be willing to extend cooperation for this purpose,” the statement read.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also voiced concern on the issue, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to call the news “heartbreaking.”
“The Ray family is one of the most prominent torchbearers of Bengal’s culture. Upendrakishore was among the pillars of the Bengal Renaissance. I feel this house is inextricably linked to Bengal’s cultural history,” she wrote. “I appeal to the Bangladeshi government and to all right-thinking people of that country to preserve this edifice of rich tradition. The Indian government should also intervene.”
According to the Bangladesh Department of Archaeology, the home, situated roughly 120 km from Dhaka, was built over a century ago. Following the 1947 Partition, the property came under state ownership and was designated as a children’s academy in 1989.
A Bangladeshi official cited by Daily Star stated that the demolition was approved and is being carried out in compliance with established protocols. He explained that a new semi-concrete facility would replace the old structure to resume educational activities. He further justified the demolition by citing safety concerns: the ageing building was reportedly deemed hazardous for children.