The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The 42 artefacts of Bangladesh that were sent to the Guimet Museum in Paris for an exhibition will be brought back home on Saturday amid a strong apprehension whether the country is getting back the orginal ones.

However, the government has formed an 18-member committee, headed by Cultural Affairs Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury, to make sure the country is receiving the artefacts intact.

Concerned sources said a cargo flight of Air France, carrying the artefacts, will land at the Zia International Airport early in the morning.

Of the artefacts, 14 were taken from Barindra Research Museum, 10 from National Museum and 18 from Mohasthangarh, Paharpur and Moinamoti Museum.

Adequate security measures have been taken to bring back the archaeological objects to the National Museum from the airport, the sources said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs settled the matter of bringing back the antiques and their financial cost after talks with the French government.

According to the sources, the French government agreed to bear over 60 percent of the total cost for bringing back the artefacts. Meanwhile, packing of the archaeological artefacts began in France on Monday in presence of the Charge d' Affaires of Bangladesh Embassy, officials of three museums of Bangladesh, Guimet Museum authorities and customs officials of France.

The Bangladesh government sent the archaeological masterpieces to Guimet Museum on December 1, 2007 under a cultural exchange agreement signed between the governments of Bangladesh and France.

The government cancelled the exhibition of the rare pieces at the museum on December 25, 2007 after two statues of Vishnu were stolen at the Zia International Airport en route to Paris.

A group of Bangladeshi citizens had also raised their voice against sending the artefacts to Paris and filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case with the High Court.