Not Satyajit Ray's ancestral home: Bangladesh denies any connection between filmmaker and Mymensingh property
historic property
linked to legendary Bengali filmmaker and author
Satyajit Ray
is being demolished by local authorities in Mymensingh.
According to a statement from the
Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs
, a thorough review of archival land records has confirmed that the house in question was never associated with Ray or his family. The building, located near "
Shashi Lodge
" in Mymensingh, was originally constructed by local zamindar Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury for his employees, said the memo.
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"In this regard, Swapan Dhar, an archaeology researcher from Mymensingh, also stated that the house in question is not the ancestral home of Satyajit Ray," it read. It added that the house is not listed as an archaeological monument, either.
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The clarification follows media reports that claimed the demolished structure was once the ancestral home of the Ray family.
The Muhammed Yunus-led interimm government firmly stated that the land has always belonged to the state following the abolition of the zamindari system and has no historical or legal connection to Satyajit Ray or his ancestors.
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According to the Foreign Ministry's directive, the confusion appears to have stemmed from the house's proximity to
Harikishore Ray Road
, named after Satyajit Ray's great-grandfather, Harikishore Ray—who adopted Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, Satyajit Ray's grandfather and a renowned author himself.
The statement further said that while the Ray family did once own a home on Harikishore Ray Road, that structure was sold long ago and no longer exists.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday had expressed deep concern over the alleged demolition of the ancestral home of the renowned artist. The TMC supremo had further urged the
Bangladesh government
to take steps to preserve this house and urged the Central government to 'pay attention to this matter'.
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