Dhaka: Chief Adviser's Press Wing has called misleading the Indian claim of vandalism at Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Shahzadpur of Sirajganj district.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, recent statements from Indian government figures, including those aligned with Hindutva ideologies, have wrongly depicted the incident as a systematic attack against Hindu heritage. These allegations were disseminated despite evidence suggesting otherwise, as stated in a Facebook post from the Chief Adviser's Press Wing.
India's Ministry of External Affairs expressed concerns regarding the incident, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal categorizing the attack as part of a broader pattern aimed at erasing Bangladesh's cultural legacy. Comments from various Indian political figures, including Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and BJP MP Sambit Patra, further fueled the controversy by labeling the event as a premeditated hate crime.
Contrary to these claims, multiple verified reports from Bangladeshi media indicate that the vandalism was the result of a local dispute over entry tickets. The incident, which took place on June 10, 2025, saw an agitated crowd vandalizing the Rabindra Kacharibari auditorium after a conflict involving an expatriate visitor and museum staff over ticket purchases.
The dispute began on June 8, during Eid celebrations, when visitor Shahnewaz Hossain and his wife faced a physical altercation with site staff over entry tickets. Consequently, Shahnewaz filed a police complaint, leading to a protest that culminated in the vandalism.
Bangladesh's Ministry of Cultural Affairs confirmed that the incident stemmed from a personal disagreement, devoid of any communal or political motives. Investigation committees have been established by the district administration and the Department of Archaeology. Legal actions are underway, with several arrests made and ongoing efforts to apprehend additional suspects. The press wing reiterated that the attack was not a communal or political act but rather rooted in personal conflict.