The demolition of the ancestral home of famous filmmaker Satyajit Rai in Mayansinh, Bangladesh was stopped on 16 July 2025 after the Government of India initiative. India had offered to convert this historic building into a literature museum. The house, which belonged to Satyajit Rai’s grandfather and famous litterateur Upendra Kishore Rai Chaudhary, is located on Harikishore Rai Chaudhary Road in Dhaka. The century old building is a symbol of Bangla cultural regeneration and is associated with the poems and stories of Upendra Kishore to be taught in schools in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Bangladesh in India.
India’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on July 15, expressing deep concern over the demolition and said, “This building, which is owned by the Bangladesh government, is in a shabby condition. It would be better for Bangla culture to rebuild it as a Sahitya Museum instead of destroying it.” India offered cooperation for repair and reconstruction. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also appealed to Bangladesh and Government of India for protection, calling it a “heartbreaking” incident.
According to Bangladesh newspaper ‘The Daily Star’, the house was being used as Mayansinh Shishu Academy since 1989, but since 2007 it was abandoned and shabby. The purpose of destruction was to build a new semi-concrete building. The local people and advisor of the Archaeological Department, Sabina Yasmin, demanded protection by calling it an archaeological heritage.
The X was accused of destroying the cultural heritage of Bangladesh’s interim government and Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh. BJP leader Amit Malviya called it “destruction of history”. However, the demolition stopped after local activists and India’s appeal, which is a shared victory for Bangla culture.
