The Government of Bangladesh has clarified that the building being demolished in Mymensingh district has no historical or familial connection with iconic Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray or his ancestors. The statement comes from the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry following the widespread reports that surfaced linking the property to Ray’s lineage.
In a press statement released on Wednesday, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said that a detailed review of official land and archival records had been conducted, which reconfirmed that the building never belonged to Ray’s family. “The house in question never had any relation with the ancestors of the esteemed laureate Satyajit Ray,” the statement read.
The building, located near Shashi Lodge, was originally built by local landlord Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury for his staff. After the abolition of the zamindari system, the land became government property and was later leased to the Bangladesh Shishu Academy. It served as the district office of the Academy before being declared unsafe.
Officials said the building had been left unused since 2014, after the Shishu Academy shifted to a rented place. Over time, the empty building became a spot for illegal activities. The government has now started building a new semi-permanent structure for the Academy at the same location. The old building is being taken down through a public auction that was announced in March 2025.
The statement added that Mymensingh’s Deputy Commissioner recently held a public meeting with senior citizens, cultural figures, and journalists to address local concerns.
Further, prominent community members, including writer Kangal Shahin and academic Bimal Kanti Dey, have also confirmed that the demolished house was not linked to Ray’s family. “There is no connection between this building and the Ray family,” said local writer Farid Ahmed Dulal, echoing the general consensus.
The only connection to Satyajit Ray is …
The only connection to the Ray family in the area, the statement read, is the nearby road named after Hari Kishore Ray, Satyajit Ray’s great-grandfather. The family once owned a house there, which was sold many years ago and no longer exists.
The government has urged people not to spread “misleading or factually inaccurate narrative in any form” that could lead to confusion or social unrest.