Photo : CA Press Wings Facebook.

DHAKA, June 18, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Adviser's Press Wing has called misleading the Indian claim of vandalism at Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Shahzadpur of Sirajganj district.

"Recently, Indian government, Indian political figures and Hindutva-aligned social media accounts have circulated misleading claims about an incident of vandalism at Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Shahzadpur, Sirajganj, Bangladesh," it said in a statement posted on its verified Facebook page - CA Press Wing Facts - on Tuesday. 

It claimed that the attack, which stemmed from a local dispute, was falsely portrayed as a "systematic Islamist attack" or "terrorist act" against a symbol of Hindu heritage - despite clear evidence to the contrary.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern over the incident. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated: "The attack falls in the broad pattern of systematic attempts made by extremists to erase the symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic culture and the cultural legacy of Bangladesh."

On X (formerly Twitter), Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called the incident "Shocking and Unacceptable," claiming it occurred "under the silent gaze of Mohammad Yunus's government." 

He further asserted: "This is far beyond mere vandalism. It is a premeditated hate crime."

BJP MP Sambit Patra alleged: "The attack .....was a preplanned attack by Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam." 

He added: "I want to address three points with responsibility, that the (Bangladesh) interim government of Muhammad Yunus, is not showing good behaviour or any response. There has been no investigation, leaving a poor message... As BJP's spokesperson, I strongly condemn the behaviour of the Bangladesh government."

West Bengal BJP Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed: "A mob led by the BNP and the Chhatra Shibir" vandalised the historic mansion.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar also condemned the incident, labeling it "shameful" and "outrageous." In his post on X, he wrote: "Even the ancestral home of Nobel Laureate and global icon Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore has not been spared - vandalised under the rule of Mohammad Yunus in Bangladesh. One question echoes loudly-Is Tagore now a 'criminal' in Bangladesh, simply because he was a Hindu?"

Speaking at a protest, BJP MLA Bhagaban Das denounced the incident as one of many "barbaric acts" allegedly taking place in Bangladesh under Yunus's interim government.

"However, these claims are false and misleading. Investigations and official statements confirm that the attack was neither communal nor politically motivated. It was not orchestrated by any radical group or with backing from Bangladesh's interim government," the CA press wing claimed.

According to multiple verified reports from Bangladeshi media outlets, an angry mob vandalised the auditorium of Rabindra Kacharibari in Shahzadpur municipality area of Sirajganj district on June 10, protesting the alleged attack on a visitor over entry tickets. 

The vandalism occurred on June 10, 2025, after a local dispute over entry tickets at the Rabindra Kacharibari site, the statement said.
 
According to the reports of several top media outlets in Bangladesh, the conflict originated on the second day of Eid (8 June) when expatriate visitor Shahnewaz Hossain and his wife attempted to enter the museum without purchasing entry tickets. A verbal altercation broke out, followed by a physical assault allegedly carried out by site staff. 

Following this incident, Shahnewaz filed a formal complaint at Shahzadpur Police Station, naming six staff members. 

On June 10, he and local residents staged a human chain in protest. Later that day, a group of around 50-60 agitated individuals vandalised the museum's auditorium and the custodian's office, according to the press wing statement.

On June 13, Bangladesh's Ministry of Cultural Affairs released an official statement, confirming that the vandalism was the result of a personal dispute and had no communal or political motive.

The statement clarified: "On June 8, a scuffle and fight broke out between the employee in charge of Shahjadpur Rabindra Kachari Bari and a visitor due to a misunderstanding and argument over a parking ticket."

Contrary to the claim by BJP MP Sambit Patra, two investigation committees have been formed - one by the district administration and one by the Department of Archaeology. A criminal case has also been filed by the Department of Archaeology. As of now, five individuals have been arrested, and efforts to detain the remaining suspects are ongoing.

"There is no communal or political motive behind this attack other than personal conflict. Nothing degrading to the honour or dignity of Rabindranath Tagore has happened," the press wing said.