Neglect and looting leave multimillion-dollar Sailajaranjan Majumdar Cultural Center in Netrokona abandoned
Photo Collected
A cultural center established in Netrokona to honor the legacy of Rabindra Sangeet exponent Shailajaranjan Majumdar has fallen into disrepair, with operations at a standstill for the past two years. The facility, which cost 500 million taka to construct, has suffered from neglect and widespread looting following political unrest on August 5, 2024.
Located in Baham village, two kilometers from the Mohanganj municipal office, the center spans over two acres. Despite its grand opening in March 2023, the venue has hosted no cultural events for the last two years. A recent inspection revealed that the premises are overgrown with vegetation, while the library and rehearsal rooms show signs of structural decay, including a collapsed ceiling.
The interior of the building has been stripped of essential assets. Missing items include air conditioning units, lighting fixtures, CCTV cameras, sound systems, computers, musical instruments, and auditorium control panels. While local residents managed to recover some of the stolen property, most of the infrastructure remains non-functional, including the elevator and electrical systems.
The facility was built under the Ministry of Cultural Affairs by the Public Works Department, with construction and land acquisition costs totaling 500 million taka. Although the project was envisioned as a hub for Rabindra Sangeet training, folk research, and regional cultural festivals, those goals have remained largely unrealized.
Management of the center is currently overseen by a 21-member committee led by the Deputy Commissioner of Netrokona, with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Mohanganj serving as the member secretary. However, members of the committee report that not a single formal meeting has been convened in the past three years. The center also faces a severe staffing crisis, with only two employees—a technician and a cleaner—remaining to manage the entire facility.
Mohafizur Rahman Khan, president of the Netrokona Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, stated that a cultural institution cannot survive on buildings and auditoriums alone; it requires active engagement, research, and regular programming. Observers and local cultural activists are calling on the government to appoint necessary personnel and implement a sustainable management plan to revive the site.
Shailajaranjan Majumdar, born in Baham village in 1900, was a renowned teacher and composer honored by Rabindranath Tagore as ‘Gitambudhi.’ Despite his historical significance and the substantial state investment in his namesake center, the site currently stands as a symbol of institutional inertia, leaving stakeholders demanding immediate state intervention to restore the facility’s intended purpose.
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