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The Government of Bangladesh has responded firmly to a troubling incident involving the ancestral home of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Sirajganj, a place steeped in cultural and literary significance.

According to an official statement issued today, authorities are actively investigating an altercation that occurred at Rabindra Kachharibari — a museum dedicated to Tagore’s legacy — which later escalated into a violent episode of vandalism.

The initial dispute reportedly took place on June 8, when a visitor, accompanied by family, arrived at the historic site and became embroiled in a heated argument with museum staff over a motorcycle parking fee. What began as a seemingly minor disagreement quickly turned serious. The visitor, identified as Md. Shahnewaz, was allegedly locked in an office room and physically assaulted by staff members. A video of the incident has since gone viral, triggering widespread condemnation and public demonstrations, including a human chain protest on June 11.

Statement From Bangaldesh Foreign Ministry

The tension reached a breaking point when an angry mob stormed the museum premises and vandalized its auditorium. During the chaos, a director of the institution was also reportedly assaulted.

In response, the Department of Archaeology, which manages the site, has suspended visitor access to Rabindra Kachharibari and established a three-member inquiry panel tasked with investigating the matter. The committee has been directed to submit its findings within five working days.

#Bangladesh revers Nobel Laureate #RabindranathTagore, as integral to 🇧🇩linguistic & cultural #heritage. People hold Tagore in highest esteem.
🇧🇩Govt has acted promptly on an incident at the Govt-maintained property of his ancestral heritage.
Details at👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/szZ4bfwyS3

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@BDMOFA) June 13, 2025

Md Habibur Rahman, custodian of the museum, confirmed the temporary closure, citing “unavoidable circumstances.” The local administration has also filed a criminal case, arrested two individuals, and launched a separate investigation.

The Bangladesh government emphasized its deep reverence for Tagore, calling the poet a symbol of unity and cultural pride. “The Government and the people of Bangladesh hold Poet Rabindranath Tagore in the highest esteem,” the Foreign Ministry said in its statement. “There is no space in our cultural or national fabric for divisive or motivated attempts to create controversy around his legacy.”

Rabindra Kachharibari

Rabindra Kachharibari, located in Shahzadpur in the Rajshahi division, once served as a revenue office and family residence for Tagore. It was within these very walls that the legendary poet penned some of his most iconic literary works. Today, the site stands not only as a museum but as a revered symbol of Bengal’s literary and cultural heritage.

The attack on Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore Ji’s ancestral home in Shahjadpur is a direct assault on cultural memory and civilisational continuity. Silence from Bangladesh’s interim government raises serious questions. Such actions strike at the roots of shared heritage and must be… pic.twitter.com/EXuOFJouwm

— Temjen Imna Along (@AlongImna) June 12, 2025

India’s Ministry of External Affairs also condemned the attack in strong terms. At a press briefing, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the incident as “despicable” and “a disgrace to the memory and the inclusive philosophy” of Tagore. He linked the act to a larger pattern of attacks aimed at eroding the syncretic and tolerant cultural fabric 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,” he stated.

As investigations unfold and authorities take steps to ensure accountability, the incident has stirred deep emotions across the subcontinent — not just for the act of violence itself, but for the perceived threat it poses to the shared cultural legacy of a literary titan who continues to inspire generations.