Satyajit Ray's Ancestral Home Guesthouse Lies Vacant for 14 Years Despite Tk 7M Cost

The government constructed a Tk 7 million guesthouse at the ancestral home of renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Katiadi upazila, Kishoreganj, over a decade ago, yet no tourist has ever stayed overnight. Despite its state-of-the-art amenities, the guesthouse remains unused due to administrative neglect and lack of maintenance.

Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home in Masua village under Masua Union has been a popular tourist destination under the Department of Archaeology’s supervision. Recognizing the need for local accommodation, the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation built the two-storey guesthouse in 2011, allocating Tk 5.2 million for its construction and furnishings. The remaining funds covered boundary walls, road improvements, and infrastructure development. The facility was inaugurated in mid-2012, yet its guest register remains unmarked after 14 years.

The guesthouse, equipped with beds, sofas, toilets, dining tables, and backup power, stands locked most of the time. Sanjit Chandra Das, a sweeper at the nearby Masua Union Land Office, acts as an unofficial caretaker without additional pay. He confirmed that no tourist has ever stayed there, though government officials occasionally use it during visits—most recently for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit on August 16, when last-minute renovations were carried out.

Local visitors, such as Sabbir Ahmed and Kabir Mia from Hossainpur upazila, noted the irony of an empty guesthouse amid tourism demand. “Building something is not enough; it needs care,” said Sabbir. Office Assistant Abu Naim Akand of the Masua Union Land Office confirmed that tourists frequently visit the ancestral home but never stay overnight.

The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, which owns the guesthouse, has not appointed a dedicated caretaker. Attempts to reach its officials for comment were unsuccessful. Masua Union Parishad Chairman Abu Bakar Siddique emphasized the need for government intervention, stating, “It is impossible that the government does not know this.”

Katiadi Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shamima Afroz attributed the lack of use to low demand, though she acknowledged recent repairs. Meanwhile, sources in the upazila administration revealed that multiple letters to the Parjatan Corporation regarding staffing have yielded no action.

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