The New Nation - Internet Edition

Ayub Quadri, who has just resigned as Adviser in
charge of Education and Cultural Ministry amid artefact
theft at Zia International Airport, is talking to newsmen
yesterday while coming out of Gulshan residence. His wife is
also seen accompanying him. Ba

BSS, Dhaka

President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed yesterday accepted the resignation letter of Education and Cultural Adviser Ayub Quadri, a Cabinet Division statement said here.

"The President has accepted his resignation," said the statement signed by Cabinet Secretary Ali Imam Majumdar.

Bangabhaban officials said the President accepted the resignation letter at about 1.30 PM as it reached him from the Cabinet Division.

Officials earlier said the adviser sent the resignation letter to the President "on personal ground" despite dissuasion from Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and other cabinet colleagues five days after two terracotta Vishnu images were stolen from the airport just ahead of the flight of the second consignment of artefacts to Paris for an exhibition.

But the development came hours after the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) overnight tracked down the artifact thieves and obtained information on the whereabouts of the statues while searches were underway to recover the relics.

Quadri earlier told newsmen that he was considering tendering resignation after the loss of rare antiques. "It's me who must take the responsibility as the head of the cultural affairs ministry for the lost artefacts."

Named 'Vishnu' and 'Bust of Vishnu', the 1,500-year-old statues are from Gupta era of the seventh century. Since being discovered in a dig at Mahasthangarh of Bogra, they had been kept at the National Museum.