Disputed Mymensingh property not linked to Satyajit Ray's family: Govt

The government today (17 July) dismissed reports that the ancestral home of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray is being demolished in Mymensingh, calling the claims "factually inaccurate" and "misleading".

In a clarification, the foreign ministry said archival records and local testimonies confirm that the disputed property has no connection with the Ray family.

The government also urged all quarters to refrain from spreading misleading or factually inaccurate narratives, in any form, that end up creating confusion and disrupting harmony amongst the people.

The century-old structure, partially demolished by local authorities, saw work halted on Wednesday amid public controversy over its supposed heritage value.

The issue surfaced after some media reports and a statement by India's Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday alleged that the house in question belonged to Satyajit Ray's grandfather Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury. 

India also expressed willingness to help restore what it called a "landmark symbol of Bangla cultural renaissance".

However, the Bangladeshi government, following a "meticulous re-examination" of official records, said the house was actually built by local Zamindar Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury for his employees near his estate, Shashi Lodge. 

After the abolition of the zamindari system, it was taken over by the state and later allocated to Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

The ministry said the land has always been classified as government (khas) land, leased on a long-term basis to Shishu Academy. The property, which had served as the office of the District Shishu Academy, has no historical or legal links to the Ray family, officials said.

Local residents, senior citizens, and cultural figures from Mymensingh also attested to the absence of any Ray family connection. The house, they said, was never recognised as a heritage site and is not listed by the Department of Archaeology.

The confusion appears to stem from the house's proximity to Harikishore Ray Road, named after Satyajit Ray's great-grandfather. The Ray family did have a residence on that road, but it was sold long ago and a multi-storied private building now stands there.

The government noted that the building currently being demolished was abandoned, structurally unsafe, and had become a hub for illegal activities. Since 2014, the Shishu Academy had moved to a rented premise in the city. 

A plan to construct a semi-permanent building on the site was launched in early 2024, and the demolition was approved through proper channels and publicly notified on 7 March 2025.

On Wednesday, Mymensingh Deputy Commissioner convened a meeting with local writers, journalists and cultural figures to address the concerns.

Noted writer Kangal Shahin, civil society leader Bimal Kanti Dey, and poet Farid Ahmed Dulal all confirmed that the house had no ties to the Ray lineage.

"Everyone present supported the construction of a new building for Shishu Academy in the interest of the city's children," the ministry said in its statement.

Archaeology researcher Swapan Dhar also affirmed that the building is not Satyajit Ray's ancestral home.