The Crossbill News Desk
India on Thursday, June 12, strongly condemned the vandalism of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestral home in Bangladesh’s Sirajganj district, describing the incident as part of a “systematic” pattern by extremist groups to undermine the country's syncretic cultural heritage.
The Rabindra Kachharibari, once the estate office during Tagore’s tenure as a Zamindar and now a museum, has been closed to visitors indefinitely following the violence.
The unrest was reportedly triggered by a dispute over a parking fee during the Eid holidays, which escalated into a mob attack on the historic premises.
According to a report by Prothom Alo on June 10, the violence followed the circulation of a video showing a visitor, Md. Shahnewaz, being beaten by museum staff over a disagreement regarding a parking token.
Eyewitnesses said the situation escalated when Shahnewaz failed to present the token, leading to an altercation during which he was allegedly dragged into an office and beaten with sticks. He was later rescued by relatives and local leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and a police complaint was filed the same night.
Public outrage mounted in the days that followed. On June 10, residents of Shahjadpur staged a human chain demonstration outside the local Press Club demanding justice. The protest march subsequently entered the Kachharibari compound, where parts of the premises, including the custodian’s office and auditorium, were vandalized.
At a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal denounced the June 8 attack as a “despicable” act that dishonours the legacy and inclusive vision of Tagore.
“The attack falls in the broad pattern of systematic attempts by extremists to erase the symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic culture and the cultural legacy of Bangladesh. We urge the interim government to rein in the extremists, and take strict action against the perpetrators to prevent recurrence of such incidents that sadly have become a repetitive feature,” Jaiswal stated.
In India, the incident drew strong political reactions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the central government to formally protest with Dhaka. She called the attack a "heinous and mindless act" and appealed for a coordinated international response.
In her letter, Banerjee described the vandalism as a strike against “a shared legacy” and emphasized that Tagore’s ancestral home is emblematic of the deep historical and literary bonds between India and Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that two individuals had been arrested in connection with the incident. In a statement, the ministry reiterated the country’s reverence for Tagore.
“The people and the government of Bangladesh hold Poet Rabindranath Tagore in the highest of esteem and his contribution to our language, literature and culture is deeply revered. The Government and the people of Bangladesh would continue to cherish his contributions and would like to reiterate that in the Bangladesh national and cultural space there is no scope for any divisive and motivated attempt to foment controversy on the subject,” the statement said.
The Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh has formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident and assess the damage. Custodian Md. Habibur Rahman confirmed that access to the site has been suspended due to “unavoidable circumstances.”
Local police said a case has been registered against 50 to 60 unidentified individuals involved in the attack.
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation in both countries, with cultural and civil society groups urging stronger safeguards for historical sites and a renewed commitment to preserving the legacy of figures like Rabindranath Tagore.
The Rabindra Kachharibari, once the estate office during Tagore’s tenure as a Zamindar and now a museum, has been closed to visitors indefinitely following the violence.
The unrest was reportedly triggered by a dispute over a parking fee during the Eid holidays, which escalated into a mob attack on the historic premises.
According to a report by Prothom Alo on June 10, the violence followed the circulation of a video showing a visitor, Md. Shahnewaz, being beaten by museum staff over a disagreement regarding a parking token.
Eyewitnesses said the situation escalated when Shahnewaz failed to present the token, leading to an altercation during which he was allegedly dragged into an office and beaten with sticks. He was later rescued by relatives and local leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and a police complaint was filed the same night.
Public outrage mounted in the days that followed. On June 10, residents of Shahjadpur staged a human chain demonstration outside the local Press Club demanding justice. The protest march subsequently entered the Kachharibari compound, where parts of the premises, including the custodian’s office and auditorium, were vandalized.
At a weekly press briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal denounced the June 8 attack as a “despicable” act that dishonours the legacy and inclusive vision of Tagore.
“The attack falls in the broad pattern of systematic attempts by extremists to erase the symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic culture and the cultural legacy of Bangladesh. We urge the interim government to rein in the extremists, and take strict action against the perpetrators to prevent recurrence of such incidents that sadly have become a repetitive feature,” Jaiswal stated.
In India, the incident drew strong political reactions. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the central government to formally protest with Dhaka. She called the attack a "heinous and mindless act" and appealed for a coordinated international response.
In her letter, Banerjee described the vandalism as a strike against “a shared legacy” and emphasized that Tagore’s ancestral home is emblematic of the deep historical and literary bonds between India and Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that two individuals had been arrested in connection with the incident. In a statement, the ministry reiterated the country’s reverence for Tagore.
“The people and the government of Bangladesh hold Poet Rabindranath Tagore in the highest of esteem and his contribution to our language, literature and culture is deeply revered. The Government and the people of Bangladesh would continue to cherish his contributions and would like to reiterate that in the Bangladesh national and cultural space there is no scope for any divisive and motivated attempt to foment controversy on the subject,” the statement said.
The Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh has formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident and assess the damage. Custodian Md. Habibur Rahman confirmed that access to the site has been suspended due to “unavoidable circumstances.”
Local police said a case has been registered against 50 to 60 unidentified individuals involved in the attack.
The attack has sparked widespread condemnation in both countries, with cultural and civil society groups urging stronger safeguards for historical sites and a renewed commitment to preserving the legacy of figures like Rabindranath Tagore.
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