Dhaka, June 12 -- India has strongly condemned the vandalism of Rabindra Kachhari Bari in Sirajganj, calling it "part of a broader pattern of attempts by extremists" to wipe out Bangladesh's cultural heritage.

Speaking at a weekly press conference on Thursday, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the Jun 10 attack as "a disgrace to the memory of the Nobel laureate and the inclusive philosophy and teachings he espoused in Bangladesh".

He said the incident reflects "systematic efforts by extremists to erase symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic culture and cultural legacy of Bangladesh".

A Kachhari Bari served as the office and trade house for Zamindars, or feudal landlords.

On Jun 8, a ...