The government of Bangladesh has temporarily suspended the demolition of the ancestral home of iconic filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, following a wave of protests and emotional appeals from cultural and political quarters in both India and Bangladesh.

The decision comes after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a direct appeal to the Bangladeshi authorities, calling for the preservation of the site as a vital symbol of shared Bengali heritage. Her remarks were echoed by artists, academics, and heritage conservationists across both sides of the border, igniting widespread debate and sentiment over the fate of the historic residence.

In response to the backlash, the Bangladeshi administration clarified that the initial decision to demolish the house was taken on safety grounds, pointing to its dilapidated and abandoned state for over a decade.

“The structure had become unsafe, especially for children in the locality. The original plan was to replace it with a modern building intended for cultural use, and all necessary permissions had been secured,” said Mehdi Zaman, Dhaka’s child affairs officer.

New committee formed to reassess future of the site

Acknowledging the gravity of public concern, Bangladesh has now formed a special committee to examine whether the original structure can be restored or preserved while still converting the space into a modern cultural center.

The Ministry of Culture has assured that no further action will be taken until the committee completes its review. Officials also suggested that the strong reaction from India might have stemmed from a “misunderstanding” about the project’s actual intentions and redevelopment scope.

In a formal statement, the Indian government described the home — once belonging to Upendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury, grandfather of Satyajit Ray and a seminal literary figure — as “not merely an architectural relic, but a symbol of the intertwined cultural heritage of India and Bangladesh.”

New Delhi also expressed its willingness to assist in restoration efforts, should Bangladesh choose to pursue a heritage-based redevelopment model.

A house rich with legacy

The Mymensingh residence holds immense historical and cultural significance, particularly in the context of Bengali literature, cinema, and intellectual history. The Ray family’s legacy spans continents and disciplines — from children’s literature and publishing to globally acclaimed filmmaking — making the house more than just a physical structure; it is a symbolic site of cross-border memory and identity.

The decision to pause the demolition has been widely welcomed by heritage activists, historians, and cultural enthusiasts, who now see an opportunity for constructive dialogue and collaborative conservation.

With the spotlight firmly on Mymensingh, many hope this moment becomes a catalyst for greater cultural cooperation between India and Bangladesh — and a step toward safeguarding shared legacies for generations to come.

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