Oscar-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home is located in Mosua village, just 7 km from Katiadi upazila in Kishoreganj district. Once this house was called ‘Jorasanko of East Bengal’. Renowned children’s writers, musicians Upendra Kishore Roy Chowdhury and Sukumar Roy Chowdhury were born in this house. Even though Satyajit Ray never came to his ancestral home, his family tradition deeply influenced him, so his heart was with Bangladesh.
Inside the house there are elaborate ancient buildings, garden house, elephant pond, playground. There is a small pond behind the house and outside the main gate there is a pond ghat. Satyajit Ray’s grandfather’s memorial house is currently under the supervision of the revenue department of the government. The house is surrounded by a barbed wire fence. The dilapidated Durbar Ghar is currently being used as the Masua Union Land Office. In 2012, the border wall and Rastaghat were renovated along with the construction of a rest house at a cost of Tk 59 lakh under the initiative of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation.
How to go
The distance from Dhaka to Katiadi is about 90 km. You can reach Katiyadi upazila by any of the buses that go to Kishoreganj via Bhairab from Dhaka. It will take about two and a half to three hours to arrive by bus. You can travel from Golapbagh bus stand in Dhaka or you can come by unique super bus, the fare will be Tk 200-250. From Mahakhali bus stand you can board Ujanbhati or any other bus that comes to Kishroganj via Bhairav. Rent will cost 200-250 rupees. If you want, you can take your own private car for a day trip.
Besides, if you want to come by train, if you want to come by train from Dhaka, you have to take intercity train Egarosindur or Kishoreganj Express and get off at Manikkhali station. Train fare will be 125 taka to 259 taka. From there you have to come by easy bike or CNG to Katiyadi.
One can go to Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home at Masua village 7 km away from Katiyadi by CNG, easybike/autorickshaw.