Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, July 17, 2025 : The controversial move to demolish a building in Mymensingh, Bangladesh—widely believed to be the ancestral home of celebrated filmmaker Satyajit Ray—has been abruptly suspended following widespread public criticism and strong diplomatic protests from India. The structure, located on Harikishore Roy Chowdhury Road, is historically associated with Ray’s grandfather, the renowned writer and illustrator Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, and was until recently used as the premises of the Bangladesh Shishu Academy.
Tensions rose after reports surfaced that the Yunus Sarkar-led interim administration in Bangladesh had begun demolition work on the structure, which is over a century old. Although Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had previously pledged in 2023 to renovate and preserve the building, the policy trajectory shifted under the new administration. Far from protecting the site, demolition work began—prompting swift and coordinated backlash.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee strongly condemned the action, calling the building an integral part of Bengal’s cultural history and urging the Government of Bangladesh to safeguard it. “This is not just a building; it is a part of our collective cultural memory,” she stated, adding that its demolition would amount to erasing a piece of shared heritage between India and Bangladesh.
Soon after, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement expressing “profound regret” over the incident. Citing the site’s symbolic value as part of the Bangla cultural renaissance, the ministry urged Bangladesh to reconsider its decision and explore possibilities for restoring the structure. India also extended a formal offer to assist in its renovation, proposing that the building could be transformed into a museum of literature—a testament to the enduring cultural legacy shared by both nations.
“A building of such landmark significance should not be erased,” the MEA noted. “It is preferable to examine options for its repair and reconstruction as a space that commemorates literary and cultural contributions. India would be willing to extend full cooperation toward this effort.”
Following growing domestic and international pressure, the demolition was suspended on Wednesday by orders from the local administration in Mymensingh. However, a day later, the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement firmly denying any historical link between the property and the Ray family. It asserted that archival research had found no credible evidence connecting the house to Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury or any member of the Ray lineage.
According to the ministry’s statement, land and historical records indicated that the structure was originally built by Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury, a local zamindar, as staff quarters near his estate, Shashi Lodge. The building later became government property following the abolition of the zamindari system and was leased to the Bangladesh Shishu Academy. It was never declared an archaeological heritage site and has been officially classified as khas (state-owned) land.
The ministry also stated that consultations with local historians and senior citizens had yielded no evidence linking the structure to the Ray family. The only documented association to the Ray legacy in the area, it claimed, was the naming of Harikishore Ray Road—named after Ray’s great-grandfather. While the Ray family did own a residence on that road at one time, the house in question was reportedly sold long ago and replaced by a modern structure.
The ministry further explained that the decision to dismantle the old building was made earlier this year, with the goal of replacing it with a new semi-permanent facility for children’s development. A public tender for demolition had been issued through national and regional newspapers on March 7, 2025.
Nonetheless, heritage activists and some local historians remain unconvinced. In interviews published by leading Bangladeshi media outlets such as The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, critics claimed that the historical and cultural value of the building had long been neglected. Poet and activist Shamim Ashraf lamented that the structure had fallen into disrepair due to years of official apathy. “Cracks had developed on the roof, and the building was clearly deteriorating. Yet, despite its heritage significance, authorities chose demolition over restoration,” he said.
The backlash has prompted fresh discussions on the treatment of shared heritage sites in the subcontinent, particularly those linked to prominent figures like Satyajit Ray. Even as the government of Bangladesh insists on the building’s disassociation from Ray’s lineage, the controversy has reignited debate over the cultural custodianship of historically sensitive landmarks.
For now, the demolition stands paused, but the future of the building remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the issue has touched a raw nerve in both countries, unearthing not just contested history but also deep sentiments tied to a shared cultural past.