A mob vandalised Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestral mansion, the historic Rabindra Kacharibari, in Sirajganj district of Bangladesh, prompting strong condemnation from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused the Muhammad Yunus-led government of inaction.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, targeted the mansion's auditorium and other sections of the heritage site. Window panes, doors, and furniture were destroyed.
The site, now a memorial museum, was once the estate office of Tagore's family and served as a retreat where the Nobel laureate wrote parts of several plays.
The violence was reportedly sparked by an altercation on Sunday (8 June) between museum staff and Shah Newaz, a Bangladeshi expatriate who visited the site with his family.
According to local media, Newaz paid for entry and motorcycle parking but was not issued a receipt. When questioned at the main gate, a scuffle broke out. Newaz was reportedly taken to the museum office, where he was locked in a room and physically assaulted by staff, including the custodian.
Following the alleged assault, local BNP leaders intervened to rescue Newaz. The incident provoked widespread anger in the area, leading to protests, including a human chain formed by local residents on Tuesday.
The same day, a mob stormed the museum, vandalising property and assaulting its director, according to the local news in Bangladesh.
In response to the attack, the Bangladesh Department of Archaeology closed the museum indefinitely and formed a three-member investigative panel. The committee has been tasked with submitting a report within five working days.
A case was filed on Wednesday (11 June) against 50–60 individuals, including ten named suspects, in connection with the violence, reported a local Dhaka-based newspaper.
BJP spokesperson and MP Sambit Patra strongly condemned the incident, calling it a "premeditated attack" and accusing radical Islamist groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, of orchestrating the violence.
He also criticised the Bangladeshi government, stating that the silence from the Yunus administration suggested complicity or neglect.
“This is not just an attack on a building, but on cultural heritage and the legacy of Rabindranath Tagore,” Patra said, urging the Indian government to take up the matter through diplomatic channels.
Rabindra Kacharibari, located in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj, was purchased by Tagore’s father and became one of the poet’s frequent residences. The estate holds historical and literary significance, with Tagore penning parts of several acclaimed works during his stays.
Custodian Mohammad Habibur Rahman confirmed that the museum is temporarily shut due to “unavoidable circumstances.” Authorities said the situation is being closely monitored and promised a full investigation.
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