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The Print
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Don't just blame Yunus for Tagore house destruction. Bangladesh radicalism goes way back
According to Bangladesh media reports, the chaos began with a misunderstanding on 8 June. A dispute over parking fee led to an altercation between an on-duty employee and a visitor at Kachharibari, now the Rabindra Memorial Museum (okay?). 'Custodian of the archaeology department, Habibur Rahman, was accused of assaulting and detaining a visitor named Shahnewaz. As the investigation was ongoing, a human chain was formed on 10 June by locals supporting Shahnewaz, demanding punishment for Habibur Rahman and other responsible staff,' Prothom Alo English reported. On 10 June, a mob vandalised Kachharibari, Tagore's ancestral home and favourite writing spot in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district. As India registers its strong protest, the question to ask is this: Is the current Muhammad Yunus administration the only one to be blamed for the naked rise of radical hatred? Bangladesh is tearing out pages of history to rewrite its origin story. It is pulling down old structures to make way for a radical new world – not metaphorically, but in reality. After toppling statues of its founding figure Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, removing his portraits from all government offices and foreign embassies, and replacing his face on currency notes, Bangladesh is now turning on Rabindranath Tagore. The Nobel laureate, who wrote the country's national anthem 'Amar Sonar Bangla', is being sacrificed as an inconvenient truth in Bangladesh's age of rage. As the protest turned tense, some people entered the site with the intention of attacking employees. Several staff members were injured in the process, the report stated. Bangladesh's cultural affairs ministry issued a statement in this regard, saying that no artefact or structure associated with Rabindranath Tagore was damaged during the incident. The attack had no political or communal motives, the ministry stressed in its statement, adding that security on the site has since been reinforced. Bangladeshi social media influencers, however, put out images depicting extensive damage to a bedroom and library at Kachharibari. Although it is hard to verify the veracity of these viral images, Bangladeshi political journalist Sahidul Hasan Khokon told me that a mob did break into Kachharibari, destroying everything in its path. 'The Yunus administration has become deft at underplaying attacks and skirting responsibility,' Khokon said. When Hindus were attacked in the country after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, Khokon added, the interim government first denied them and then said that they were 'not communal but political'. 'This time, the interim government has concocted a story to blame the attack on Tagore's legacy on a parking ticket argument. It would have been comical if the event wasn't so tragic.' India responded firmly: 'We strongly condemn the vandalisation of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home by a mob in Bangladesh on June 8th 2025. The violent act is a disgrace to his inclusive philosophy,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention for 'a strong international protest', which she said, 'would at least deter in future any attack on monuments of cultural legacies'. Bangladesh's hate tale, though, has its genesis in Sheikh Hasina's Hefazat story. Also read: Yunus is struggling to remain relevant in Bangladesh Hasina's radical deal Muhammad Yunus has been complicit in giving a free rein to the radical elements within Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina's exit. And this complicity is not limited to the rising influence of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. As journalist Snigdhendu Bhattacharya wrote in his article for The Diplomat: 'Among other incidents that a section of Bangladesh's civil society members consider warning signs are the public rallies and poster campaign by the banned terror group, Hizb ut Tahir and the release of Mufti Jashimuddin Rahmani, chief of the Ansarullah Bangla Team, an Al-Qaeda-inspired militant outfit renamed as Ansar al Islam.' But it was Sheikh Hasina's nod to the Hefazat-e-Islam – a Deobandi Islamist advocacy group consisting mostly of religious teachers and students in Bangladesh – that led to the spread of radicalism across Bangladesh. According to Robayet Ahmed, a former Bangladeshi politician and NGO worker, Hefazat was formed with the assistance of Sheikh Hasina's arch-rival and the first female Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Khaleda Zia, who is currently the chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Hefazat had risen as a counter to Ganajagaran Mancha, a big-tent coalition of students and activists that demanded the death penalty for war criminals of 1971 and a progressive, secular Bangladesh. While Ganajagaran Mancha activists fought for a secular Bangladesh, Hefazat countered them with hard Islam, often accusing Mancha activists of spreading atheism in Bangladeshi society. 'Initially, Sheikh Hasina took a tough stance against Hefazat-e-Islam but later established amicable relations in exchange for financial and other incentives, following the advice of her then-military secretary, who even publicly participated in Hefazat's gatherings. At their recommendation, the curriculum was increasingly Islamised, and numerous madrasas were established, allowing Hefazat to grow under government patronage,' Ahmed wrote. Rezwana Karim Snigdha, associate professor at the Department of Anthropology in Jahangirnagar University in Bangladesh, told me over a phone call that Hasina betrayed her mandate for a secular, progressive Bangladesh by cutting a deal with Hefazat. 'She negotiated with the radical Hefazat, and pushed the country back into the hands of the very fundamentalists she had vowed to fight against.' According to Snigdha, Hefazat – consisting mainly of Sunni clerics heading a network of 19,199 Quami madrasas and their students – tore apart bit by bit not just the secular fabric of Bangladesh but also independent voices like hers. 'Before 2008, there were not so many madrasas in Dhaka. It was a modern, cosmopolitan city. Now, every lane has a madrasa, and all credit goes to Hasina.' Snigdha, a well-known gender rights activist in Bangladesh, is not surprised at what is happening in her country today. 'Independent voices like mine are being stifled, what women should and should not wear in public is being determined, and attacks on secular and historical institutions are becoming commonplace.' The Yunus administration could have, perhaps, stopped the fire of hate from engulfing Tagore's house. But it was lit long before the chief adviser assumed office. Deep Halder is an author and a contributing editor at ThePrint. He tweets @deepscribble. Views are personal. (Edited by Zoya Bhatti)
The Print
13-06-2025
- The Print
5 arrested in connection with vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh
Kachharibari is the ancestral home and revenue office of the Tagore family located in Sirajganj district. The Rabindra Kachharibari or Rabindra Memorial Museum, which was closed after the vandalism on Sunday, was reopened for visitors on Friday, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. Dhaka, Jun 13 (PTI) At least five persons have been arrested in connection with the vandalisation of the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Bangladesh, with the authorities saying that no relics associated with the poet were damaged. Purchased by Rabindranath's grandfather Dwarakanath Tagore in 1840, the premises worked as a favourite recluse for the Nobel laureate, who wrote many of his notable literary works at this site. In a statement, the Ministry of Cultural Affairs said that no relics or artefacts associated with Rabindranath Tagore's memory were damaged during the incident when an altercation broke out between an employee on duty and a visitor over a parking ticket, the paper said. Following the incident, a mob attacked and vandalised the auditorium of the Kachharibari and beat a director of the institution. The statement said the district administration and the Department of Archaeology had each formed separate investigation committees, and law enforcement authorities arrested five people in connection with the incident. It said the authorities continued their efforts to apprehend others involved. 'Rabindra Kachharibari has been reopened to visitors from Friday,' the statement said, highlighting that the nobel laureate's ancestral home was a protected archaeological site under the Bangladesh government. It said every year, thousands of visitors from home and abroad visit the site to pay tribute to the memory of the great poet. Security measures at Rabindra Kachharibari have been reinforced, it said. The statement also highlighted that the 164th birth anniversary of the poet was recently celebrated with due reverence and grandeur on the 25th Baisakh at Shilaidaha (Kushtia), Shahjadpur (Sirajganj), and Patisar (Naogaon). India on Thursday strongly condemned the vandalism and termed the violent attack a 'disgrace' to the memory and inclusive philosophy espoused by the poet. It urged the interim government in Bangladesh to rein in these elements and take 'strict action' against the perpetrators to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. PTI PY PY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Print
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Mamata writes to Modi, seeks international pressure on B'desh govt for vandalism of Tagore property
Expressing her anguish over the incident, Banerjee urged Modi to 'take up the matter very strongly with the neighbouring country's government, so that no stone is left unturned to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous and mindless act'. What was damaged is not just a house but a 'towering fountain of creativity' in the subcontinent, she said in the letter. Kolkata, Jun 12 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention into the alleged vandalisation of Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral mansion in Banglaesh's Sirajganj district by a mob on June 11. According to local reports, the attack on the Nobel Laureate poet's ancestral residence was a follow-up of a June 8 dispute over the parking fee for a two-wheeler between a visitor and staff member of the Rabindra Kachharibari in Sirajganj which also doubles up as the Rabindra Memorial Museum. 'Although untold damage has already been done, a strong international protest would at least deter in future any attack on monuments of cultural legacies that have withstood steadfastly all tests of time,' Banerjee wrote in the letter, while adding: Tagore is famous not only in Bengal but also in the whole world. Reports in Bangladeshi media have stated that the Department of Archeology has temporarily suspended visitor access to the building and set up a three-member committee to probe the incident. 'Tagore frequented the place repeatedly in his lifetime, and many of his finest works were conceived or written while he was there,' Banerjee stated. 'The poet's creativity was intertwined with his association with this ancestral estate of theirs in an intimate manner. What has been vandalised is not a mere house, but a towering fountain of creativity in our subcontinent,' she continued. Local reports in Bangladesh suggested that what began as a minor dispute escalated quickly after the visitor was allegedly locked inside a room and physically assaulted, sparking anger among locals. A mob later stormed inside the museum premises and ransacked the building, especially its auditorium while also allegedly assaulting the director of the institution. 'For the people of Bengal, this attack is an onslaught on the commonly held legacy of Tagore… To strike at the ancestral traditional roots of Tagore today tantamounts to striking at the roots of immortal creations of the great poet intrinsically bonding the brothers and sisters of the world,' the chief minister wrote in her letter. Located in Shahzadpur in the Rajshahi division, the Kachharibari served as the Tagore family's revenue office and residence. Purchased by Rabindranath's grandfather Dwarakanath Tagore in 1840, the premises worked as a favourite recluse for the Nobel laureate who wrote many of his notable literary works at this site. Tagore's celebrated works from the Sirajgunj Kachharibari include plays like 'Bisarjan', poetry collection 'Sonar Tori' and several shorties of 'Golpoguchho'. The BJP has already slammed the Md Yunus government alleging that the destruction was a 'preplanned attack' by radical groups, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. PTI SMY NN This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
TMC, BJP condemn vandalism at Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh
The ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district was vandalised earlier this week following a confrontation between a visitor and museum staff, prompting strong condemnation from leaders across the political spectrum in West Bengal. The incident took place at the historic Kachharibari, now a museum known as the Rabindra Memorial Museum. According to local reports, a dispute broke out between a visitor and staff at the entrance over a parking fee for a motorcycle. The visitor was allegedly confined to a room and physically assaulted, which led to a local outcry. A mob reportedly stormed the premises, damaging property and attacking officials. The site has since been closed to the public, and authorities have launched an investigation. West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari blamed the attack on activists of the BNP and Chhatra Shibir in a post on social media. 'The sacred legacy of our most precious Kobiguru Rabindranath Thakur was desecrated in Sirajganj, Bangladesh… This shameful and utterly disgraceful act of destruction targeted a site that embodies Bengal's cultural soul and Tagore's universal message of humanity,' he posted. Adhikari said he also raised the issue at the Snan Yatra celebration of Jagannath Dev at the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Kolkata on Monday. He called the incident a 'wake-up call' for Hindus in West Bengal. 'When extremist forces gain ground, they spare no one; not even a figure revered worldwide like Tagore. The attack on Kachharibari is not just an assault on a building—it's an attack on our shared heritage, our identity, and our values,' he continued in his post. The sacred legacy of our most precious Kobiguru Rabindranath Thakur was desecrated in Sirajganj, Bangladesh, where a mob led by BNP and Chhatra Shibir activists vandalized the historic Rabindra Kachari Bari. This shameful & utterly disgraceful act of destruction targeted a site… — Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) June 12, 2025 He also referred to areas in West Bengal such as Malda, Murshidabad, and Maheshtala, claiming that 'demographic changes' were putting cultural sites at risk. 'The BJP is committed to safeguarding our cultural roots… The way things are going ahead in West Bengal, mimicking the rampage of Radical Islamist Forces with the aid and abetment of the (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee government, if there is no course correction in 2026, then similar vandalism will happen in Jorasanko Thakurbari and Santiniketan in a few years' time,' he alleged. The Trinamool Congress also condemned the attack. 'We strongly condemn the vandalism of Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district. Gurudev is a symbol of Bengal's cultural heritage and a global icon of literature and humanism,' the party said in a statement. 'Such acts of disrespect are an affront to every Bengali's identity and pride. We urge the Central Government to take cognizance and initiate bilateral dialogue so the culprits are brought to justice. Our icons are not collateral damage for mob fury.' We strongly condemn the vandalism of Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district. Gurudev is a symbol of Bengal's cultural heritage and a global icon of literature and humanism. Such acts of disrespect are an affront to every Bengali's… — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) June 12, 2025 BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar also criticised the incident, calling it 'shameful' and 'outrageous'. In a post on X, he said: 'Even the ancestral home of Nobel laureate and global icon Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore is not spared—vandalised under the rule of Mohammad Yunus in Bangladesh… This attack is not just on a building—it is a direct assault on the soul of Bengali identity, on the legacy of free thought, and on the very symbol of art and intellect. One question echoes out loud — is Tagore now a 'criminal' too in Bangladesh, simply because he was a Hindu?' On Tuesday, the museum auditorium was vandalised and one of its directors reportedly assaulted. Md Habibur Rahman, custodian of the Kachharibari, told local media that the site had been shut temporarily due to 'unavoidable circumstances' and that the entire premises was now under official surveillance. Located in Shahzadpur in Bangladesh's Rajshahi division, the two-storey Kachharibari building was constructed by Tagore's grandfather, Dwarkanath Tagore, in 1840. Rabindranath Tagore spent considerable time at the estate, where he composed many of his literary works.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Tagore ancestral home in Bangladesh vandalised, investigation on
DHAKA: A mob attacked and vandalised the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district, leading authorities to constitute a three-member committee to investigate the incident, according to media reports on Wednesday. On Jun 8, a visitor went to the Kachharibari, also known as Rabindra Kachharibari or Rabindra Memorial Museum, located in Sirajganj district, with his family. There, he got into an altercation with an employee at the entrance over the motorcycle parking fee, reported. Later, the visitor was allegedly confined in an office room and physically assaulted. Agitated over the incident, locals held a protest by forming a human chain on Tuesday. Later, a mob attacked and vandalised the auditorium of the Kachhari Bari and beat a director of the institution. Following the incident, the Department of Archeology constituted a three-member probe committee to investigate the attack, BSS news agency reported. Md Habibur Rahman, Custodian of the Kacharibari, told journalists that the authority has temporarily suspended the access of the visitors into the Kacharibari due to "unavoidable circumstances". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scam Exposed: What They Won't Tell You about zero trust! Expertinspector Click Here Undo The entire situation of the Kacharibari is under the surveillance of the department and the committee has been asked to submit its report within the next five working days, he was quoted as saying by BSS. Situated in Shahzadpur in Rajshahi division, Kachharibari is the ancestral home and revenue office of the Tagore family. Rabindranath Tagore created many of his literary works while living in this mansion.
