The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The French Embassy to Dhaka will ensure safe and secure return of all 187 Bangladeshi artifacts by April 2008 in their original conditions.

On behalf of the French Ambassador, first councilor of French Embassy in Dhaka Jean Romnicianu said, it was just a matter of misunderstanding among various concerns and misinterpretation of available information about exchange of international exhibitions like the upcoming Guimet Exhibition in Paris.

"Controversy builds up because of misinterpretation and delayed response from both the sides," he said during a press briefing held yesterday at the French Embassy.

Delay to clarify our points was a mistake from our side but was done unintentionally, he said. "Actually we didn't realise this apparently easy and routine process for us would generate such controversy," he added.

According to Jean Romnicianu, exhibitions like this one is very common to French authority and such exchange is considered as a routine work. When a proper documentation and agreement was signed at administrative levels in between the countries, we assumed it's done. But in this case, it was not so easy, mainly because of some nontransparent procedures in Bangladesh as well as primary data misinterpretation by some local intellectuals.

However, he clarified all controversies and possible errors, raised in media for the last couple of days.

About lack of transparency in documentation that raised objections from local intellectuals, he said those are solved. "It was the primary list with documents full of data error and missing facts. But we have modified that and made it available at all concerned departments with other information," he explained.

Regarding safe transportation and packaging, he said, the company has reputation to transport artifacts like the Monalisa. "Beside that, world wide standard packaging and transportation strategies are being implemented," he said.

Moreover, one shipment carrying half of the artifacts has left on Saturday and the second shift is expected to be on board by next Saturday. A direct Dhaka-Paris Air French Cargo is carrying out this job, he added.

"In case of any missing or damaged artifacts, which is most unlikely to happen, every object has been insured. And possibility of replica return, as feared, is again least possible is out of question for an international exhibition like this," he added.

Beside that, two expert caretakers have traveled to Paris along the artifacts to ensure their safe returns, he also added.