Art Enthusiasts, Cultural Organizers Want Venus Sculpture Restored at Shashi Lodge

Shashi Lodge is a prime tourist attraction in Mymensingh and it's also an important archeological site. Shashi Lodge is located in Mymensingh city not so far away from Brahmaputra River. It was the then Landlord Surjo Kanto's palatial residence during the British colonial era. 

A focal feature of Shashi Lodge was a sculpture of Greek goddess Venus in front of the main building. It was made of precious marble stones. Tourists from different parts of Bangladesh visit Mymensingh every year to see Shashi Lodge.

Some unidentified miscreants vandalized and smashed the sculpture of Greek goddess Venus on 5 August 2024. Cultural activists and art workers have condemned this attack on Shashi Lodge. Local educationists and painters have called upon the interim government to rebuild Shashi Lodge restoring the sculpture of goddess Venus. Progressive and patriotic platforms in Mymensingh have blamed extremist groups for this offence. Shashi Lodge is located in front of the Divisional Commissioner's Office in Mymensingh town. The Zamindar era was abolished long ago but the cultural heritage that bridged up east with west has been bearing signs of the resourceful past of Bengal for centuries.

Landlord of Muktagachha Maharaj Surjo Kanto constructed the two-storied Shashi Lodge on a land of 9 acres.

The building was named Shashi Lodge according to the childless landlord's adopted son Shashi Kanto Acharjee's name. It was damaged by an earthquake on 12 June 1897. The building was reconstructed in 1905 by Shashi Kanto Acharjee. Some more beautification was done in 1911 to make Shashi Lodge all the more spectacular.

Once upon a time Shashi Lodge was used for accommodating the campus of Women Teachers' Training College. Currently it's under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh government's Archeological Department. Everyday hundreds of people throng this place to take a look at Shashi Lodge. Most of the tourists took photographs in front of the sculpture of goddess Venus. The eye-catching sculpture was imported all the way from Italy during the ruling period of the British Empire in Bengal.

Religious bigots allegedly destroyed the sculpture of Greek goddess Venus following ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's escape to India on 5 August 2024. Shashi Lodge now has lost a big portion of its splendor due to the absence of the sculpture of Greek goddess Venus. Art scholars and cultural organizers have urged the authorities concerned to restore the sculpture of Greek goddess Venus in front of Shashi Lodge soon.

Local Field Officer of Archeological Department Sabina Yeasmin has said that a group of unruly youths entered the premises of Shashi Lodge on 5 August 2024 and demolished the sculpture. A general diary was filed with the local Kotwali Police Station, Sabina Yeasmin further said.

Regional Director of Archeological Department Afroza Khan Mita said that Shashi Lodge is one of the most valuable historical sites in Bangladesh. Afroza Khan Mita told reporters that the concerned ministry has been informed about this demolition.