Human chain protests demolition of Ritwik Ghatak's ancestral home in Rajshahi

Cultural and film activists formed a human chain in Rajshahi to demand punishment for those involved in the demolition of the memorial of legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak. They also demanded to preserve his ancestral home.

The programme was held at Saheb Bazar Zero Point in the city around 11 am on Thursday (December 18).

After the human chain organized under the banner of Rajshahi citizens, a memorandum containing five demands was handed over to the chief adviser through the Deputy Commissioner.

Ritwik Ghatak Film Society President Ahsan Kabir Liton presided over the human chain, and the organization's General Secretary Md. Mahmud Hossain, Organizing Secretary of the Central Committee of the National Indigenous Peoples Council Subhash Chandra Hembram, General Secretary of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Chhatra Federation Nadim Sina, President of the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad Rajshahi District Tahmid Zaki, President of the Adibasi Jubo Parishad Rajshahi Upen Rabidas, President of the Rajshahi University Literary Organization Swanan Mizan Sheikh and leaders of various social and cultural organizations spoke among others.

The speakers said that Ritwik Ghatak's ancestral house is not just a structure, it is an important heritage of Bengali cinema and culture. Removing bricks from the ruins of the house and throwing them in ponds is tantamount to erasing history. Those involved in this incident should be punished quickly and the bricks should be returned to their original places and the house should be preserved.

Ahsan Kabir said: "The bricks thrown in ponds outside the city should be returned to their proper places and the administration should quickly start preservation activities. If necessary, we will continue the systematic movement."

The memorandum submitted after the human chain has five demands: a fair investigation into the demolition of the ancestral home and the removal of the memorial; preservation of the remaining land; review and cancellation of the lease of the Homeopathic Medical College; installation of a boundary wall and signboards; and establishment of the 'Ritwik Ghatak Film Center' and 'Ritwik Film Institute' there in the future.

Earlier, last Tuesday, bricks were removed from the ruins of a house in Miyapara of Rajshahi and thrown into different ponds. The administration stopped the work when cultural activists opposed it. On Wednesday afternoon, the bricks were found in the Kharkhari bypass area of ​​Paba upazila.

Ritwik Ghatak's Miyapara house was demolished on August 5, 2024. Allegations of vandalism were made against the principal of the nearby Rajshahi Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital. The recommendations of the investigation committee formed after the incident have not yet been implemented. The bricks of the ruins have been piled up for two years, and a candlelight vigil held on November 4, the anniversary of his birth. This year, his birth centenary is also being celebrated there.