Ritwik Ghatak's Ancestral Home Demolished in Rajshahi

The ancestral home of renowned Bengali filmmaker Ritwik Kumar Ghatak in Rajshahi has been demolished, leading to widespread outrage among cultural activists and local residents. The Rajshahi Homoeopathic Medical College is implicated in the destruction, with conflicting accounts regarding responsibility; while the college's principal claims former students were responsible, a contractor stated he was directed by the college to carry out the demolition. Protests erupted following the demolition, as community members had previously fought to preserve the site and establish it as a heritage site, similar to the preservation efforts for actress Suchitra Sen's home. This is not the first attempt to raze Ghatak's home, with prior demolitions occurring in 2019 that were halted after public outcry. Activists from the Ritwik Ghatak Film Society are demanding accountability, citing the college's long-standing motives to occupy the property. The Ministry of Land has intervened to stop further construction on the site amidst the ongoing investigations.