Mob vandalises Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestral mansion in Bangladesh, raises hateful slogans, watch viral video

A mob vandalised Rabindranath Tagore’s ancestral mansion in Bangladesh’s Sirajganj district after a dispute over parking fees led to local unrest. The Department of Archaeology has suspended visitor entry and formed a three-member committee to investigate the incident, according to bdnews24.com and BSS.

Scuffle over parking fee triggers violence

On June 8, a visitor arrived at the Rabindra Kachharibari, also known as Rabindra Memorial Museum, in Sirajganj with his family. A dispute broke out between the visitor and a staff member at the entrance over the parking fee for a motorcycle, as quoted by PTI, citing bdnews24.com news.

The situation escalated when the visitor was allegedly locked inside an office room and physically assaulted. The incident sparked local anger, leading to a protest in the form of a human chain on June 11.

Mob vandalises auditorium, director assaulted

Following the protest, a mob stormed the museum premises and vandalised the auditorium of the Kachharibari. The attackers also reportedly assaulted a director of the institution.

Probe panel formed, visitor access suspended

In response, the Department of Archaeology has set up a three-member committee to investigate the matter, as reported by BSS news agency. The committee has been asked to submit its report within five working days.

Md Habibur Rahman, Custodian of the Kacharibari, told journalists, “The authority has temporarily suspended the access of the visitors into the Kacharibari due to unavoidable circumstances.”

Historical significance of Kachharibari

Located in Shahzadpur in the Rajshahi division, the Kachharibari served as the Tagore family’s revenue office and residence. Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel laureate, wrote many of his notable literary works at this site.