Thu Jul 17 14:49:03 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
The article discusses a disagreement between India and Bangladesh regarding a house in Mymensingh district, Bangladesh. India believes the house is the ancestral property of renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray and urged Bangladesh to preserve it as a symbol of shared cultural heritage. Bangladesh, however, claims that inquiries into archival records and local sources confirm the house has no connection to the Ray family and is being demolished due to its dilapidated state and use for unlawful activities. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry maintains that while a road is named after Ray’s great-grandfather, the family’s original house on that road was sold long ago and no longer exists.
**News Article:**
**Bangladesh Denies Satyajit Ray Ancestral Link to Demolished House, Despite Indian Concerns**
**Dhaka, Bangladesh – July 17, 2025** – A diplomatic disagreement has emerged between India and Bangladesh over the demolition of a house in Mymensingh district. India had appealed to Bangladesh to reconsider the demolition, claiming the building was the ancestral property of acclaimed filmmaker Satyajit Ray and offered assistance to preserve the building as a symbol of shared culture.
However, Bangladesh has firmly denied any connection between the house and the Ray family. In a statement released today, the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh asserted that a thorough investigation of archival records and consultations with local residents have confirmed that the house never belonged to the ancestors of Satyajit Ray.
“The district authorities have reviewed the land records related to the house and confirmed that, as per the past records, the land belongs to the Government and has no association with the Ray family whatsoever,” the statement read.
According to the Bangladeshi government, the house was built by a local landlord for his employees and later came under government control. It was allocated to the ‘Shishu Academy’ but had fallen into disrepair and was being used for illegal activities after the Academy moved to a rented property in 2014. The demolition was initiated to construct a semi-permanent building on the site.
While acknowledging that a road in front of the property is named ‘Harikishore Ray Road’ after Satyajit Ray’s great-grandfather, the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry clarified that the Ray family once owned a house on that road but sold it long ago.
India had proposed converting the building into a museum dedicated to the shared cultural heritage of both nations. However, Bangladesh’s insistence that there is no historical or familial connection to the Ray family appears to have closed the door on that possibility. The demolition is proceeding as planned.
First Piper 