The Voice News: An incident of vandalism occurred at Rabindra Kachharibari in Shahzadpur, Sirajganj in Bangladesh on Tuesday (June 10) following an altercation between a visitor and the security personnel. The agitated crowd smashed doors and windows of the auditorium.
Officer-in-Charge of Shahzadpur Police Station, Aslam Ali, said that on Sunday, June 8, visitor Shah Newaz went to Rabindra Kachharibari with his wife and nephew. While tickets were issued for entry, an additional charge was taken for motorcycle parking without providing any parking token. This led to an argument between Shah Newaz and the security staff. During the dispute, the security personnel allegedly assaulted the visitor.
Following the incident, on Tuesday (June 10) afternoon, agitated locals held a protest rally and human chain in front of the Shahzadpur Press Club. The protestors later marched through important roads of Shahzadpur and entered Rabindra Kachharibari. They vandalized the custodian’s office, library, and the auditorium’s doors and windows. During the attack, Sirajul Islam, an auditorium, electricity, and garden caretaker, was also assaulted.
Upon receiving news of the incident, the police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. Assistant Commissioner (Land), Md. Mushfiqur Rahman, visited the site and stated that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the attack and vandalism.
Background: Rabindra Kachharibari is located in Shahzadpur Upazila of Sirajganj district. The two-story building, constructed in Indo-European architectural style, is now known as the Rabindra Memorial Museum. In 1840, the estate of Shahzadpur was purchased by Prince Dwarkanath Tagore, grandfather of poet Rabindranath Tagore. The estate included the Kachharibari (revenue office) as well. Rabindranath used to visit this house occasionally to manage the zamindari (landlord estate). In 1969, the Department of Archaeology declared the building a protected heritage site.
