Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home in Dhaka is being torn down by Bangladeshi authorities.

By Aniket Chakraborty

July 16, 2025

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The century-old house once belonged to Ray’s grandfather, writer Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury.

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee called the demolition “heartbreaking and distressing.”

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The home lies in Mymensingh and had served as a children’s academy post-Partition.

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Officials cited safety concerns and disrepair to justify building a new concrete structure.

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India urged Bangladesh to reconsider and restore it as a literary and cultural museum.

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“We’re ready to help preserve this shared heritage,” said the Indian government.

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The home represents a deep thread of Bengali cultural renaissance spanning both nations.

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Bangladesh says demolition was approved after 10 years of the building lying abandoned.

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As walls fall, a cross-border plea rises to save the legacy of Ray’s timeless vision.

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