BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra addressed reporters in New Delhi, describing the assault on the heritage site as “pre-planned” and alleging the involvement of Islamist groups Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam. Patra called on the global community to condemn the act, warning that the attack struck at the heart of Tagore’s philosophy: inclusion, culture and moral creativity. He criticised the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for failing to protect what he termed “an international monument”.
The Ministry of External Affairs labelled the episode “despicable” and “violent,” asserting that any attempt to erase symbols of tolerance dishonours Tagore’s legacy. Meanwhile, political leaders in West Bengal voiced condemnation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged Prime Minister Modi to engage diplomatically with Dhaka to ensure justice, accusing Bangladesh of violating shared cultural heritage and urging swift action. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari described the act as a “disgraceful affront” targeting Bengali identity and intellectual inheritance.
Bangladeshi authorities responded by closing the site and establishing a three-member investigatory committee. A police case has reportedly been filed against over 50 suspects, including ten named individuals, and access to the museum has been suspended until further notice. The incident is viewed as part of escalating attacks on arts and cultural heritage across Bangladesh, where more than forty cultural sites have faced threats since last year.
The Rabindra Kacharibari estate, located in Shahzadpur, Rajshahi division, holds deep historical significance. Purchased in 1840 by Dwarkanath Tagore, it served as a source of creative inspiration for Rabindranath. Several of his celebrated works, including Bishorjon, Chitra and Sonar Tori, were composed there.
Political discourse surrounding the incident reflects broader geopolitical tensions. Patra framed the event as symbolic, characterising it as an assault on civilisational values and calling on nations “that value morality, creativity and culture” to join in condemnation. Banerjee emphasised diplomatic engagement, urging bilateral intervention to protect monuments shared between India and Bangladesh. Adhikari linked the attack to the rise of extremist forces in the region, urging vigilance and cultural preservation.
The interim government in Bangladesh under Muhammad Yunus has yet to release a detailed official statement beyond the formation of the probe committee and the closure of the site. Local authorities are expected to provide findings to the Department of Archaeology within a five-day period.
Cultural experts argue that the vandalism undermines the region’s longstanding tradition of shared heritage. Tagore’s legacy spans both nations: he authored the Indian national anthem Jana Gana Mana and Amar Shonar Bangla, Bangladesh’s anthem, embodying a bond between the two nations built on literature, art and communal harmony.
Heritage conservation advocates warn that without robust protection and transnational cooperation, vulnerable sites may remain at risk. They stress that safeguarding such monuments demands more than local security—it calls for institutional frameworks recognising their universal value.