Building being demolished has no link with Satyajit Ray: Bangladesh

Taking cognisance of the reports that claimed that the ancestral property of renowned author and filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh is being demolished by Bangladeshi authorities, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a clarification.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh said a detailed inquiry into archives and records in Bangladesh confirms that the building being demolished in Mymensingh district has no historical or familial link to the renowned Bengali filmmaker or his ancestors.

The clarification comes after India expressed its concern over the ongoing demolition of the structure, also along with its offer to assist Bangladesh in converting it into a museum. Several reports had earlier stated that the house belonged to Ray’s grandfather, the noted Bengali writer Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, and expressed concern over its planned demolition.

The Bangladeshi administration said the building in question had no connection with Ray’s family and was never owned by them.

“The disputed structure was built by local zamindar Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury. Upon the abolition of the zamindari system, it came under the control of the government. The government later allocated it to the Bangladesh ‘Shishu Academy’,” the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus said in a statement.

“And, the land itself was a non-agricultural government (khas) land and leased to Shishu Academy on a long-term basis,” Bangladesh said.

Dhaka also said after reviewing the land records, it is now confirmed that the land belongs to the government and has no association with the Ray family.

“The district authorities have reviewed the land records related to the house and confirmed that, as per the past records, the land belongs to the government and has no association with the Ray family whatsoever,” the country’s Foreign Ministry said.

“Local senior citizens and respected individuals from various communities also attested that there is no known historical connection between the Ray family and the house and land currently leased to the Shishu Academy. The house is not listed as an archaeological monument either,” the statement said.

It underscored that the road in front of the house is named after Ray’s great-grandfather Harikishore Ray, the adoptive parent of his grandfather.

“The Ray family had a house on Harikishore Ray Road, which they had sold long ago and, thus, no longer exists. A multi-storied building was constructed there by the new owner,” the statement said.

The building that is now being demolished, the Bangladesh Government said, was “dilapidated, risky and unusable”.

“Since 2014, the academy had shifted to a rented property elsewhere in Mymensingh city, and the abandoned house became a den for unlawful activities by local anti-social elements. Hence, an initiative was taken to construct a semi-permanent building at the site in the first half of 2024,” it added.

The statement reiterated that prominent writers and poets have said the building has no connection with Ray.

“Prof Bimal Kanti Dey, a respected member of the civil society in Mymensingh, shared additional details about the misperception about the house belonging to the Ray family. Local poet and writer Farid Ahmed Dulal also affirmed that the house has no connection with Ray or his family,” it said.

“Drawing on the factual and meticulous re-examination of all records, the Government of Bangladesh urges all quarters to refrain from spreading misleading or factually inaccurate narrative, in any form, that end up creating confusion and disrupt harmony amongst people,” it added.