India on Thursday strongly condemned the vandalism of Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral house—informally called Rabindra Kachharibari—Bangladesh's Sirajganj district.
The government urged the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Dhaka to take firm action against the extremist elements behind the act.
We are strongly condemning the shameful attack and destruction of the ancestral residence of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by a mob on June 8, 2025. The violent act is an insult to the memory and the philosophy of inclusion and the teachings which the Nobel laureate preached in Bangladesh.". The attack is in a general trend of systematic efforts by extremists to wipe out the symbols of tolerance and gut the synchronic culture and cultural heritage of Bangladesh," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a routine press briefing.
Jaiswal stressed that the Bangladesh authorities need to act sternly. "We request the interim government to rein in the terrorists and take serious action against the perpetrators to avert recurrence of such incidents that unfortunately have become a recurring feature," he said.
Reasserting India's overall diplomatic position, the MEA once again expressed its resolve to foster a forward-looking and constructive relationship with Bangladesh.
“Our approach to engagement with Bangladesh and our ties with the country are well known. I have stated this from this podium several times. We seek a positive and constructive relationship with Bangladesh, one that is anchored in the aspirations of the people of both countries,” Jaiswal added.
As per Bangladeshi news agencies, between 50 to 60 activists raided the Rabindra Kachharibari complex, which features a museum dedicated to Tagore's memory. The intruders allegedly broke the main auditorium and the custodian's office, causing extensive damage to the heritage structure.
"There were tourists on the spot who panicked because of the surprise attack. We took cover during the attack and gave police information immediately," custodian Habibur Rahman said to The Daily Star.
Tourist Enamul Haque, who visited the site with his family, was shocked and disappointed. "Criminal acts at a cultural site such as Shahzadpur Rabindra Kachharibari are unacceptable," he said.
Police have made the incident official and initiated an inquiry. "A complaint was filed earlier. We are probing the issue," mentioned the officer-in-charge of Shahzadpur Police Station.
Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, also spoke on the matter at an event organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in Kolkata.
The holy heritage of our dearest Kobiguru Rabindranath Thakur was defiled in Sirajganj, Bangladesh, when a mob of BNP and Chhatra Shibir activists vandalized the century-old Rabindra Kachari Bari. This ignominious and completely despicable act of pillage targeted a destination that represents Bengal's cultural conscience and Tagore's universal message of man. Windows were broken, furniture destroyed, and a Global Icon's memory insulted," Adhikari posted on X.
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