A team of experts from the Department of Archaeology at Jahangirnagar University will assist in examining and verifying 47 artefacts preserved at the Mahasthangarh Museum in Bogra to determine their authenticity.
Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Ziaur Rahman said recently a formal letter would be sent to Jahangirnagar University seeking expert assistance.
The expert team will be led by Dr Syed Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan as convener. Team members include Dr Mozammel Haque and Dr Mokammel Hossain Bhuiyan, while Kamrun Nesa Khandaker will serve as member secretary.
According to an official letter issued on June 3 by the university registrar, the team has been tasked with examining the disputed artifacts, and relevant authorities have been requested to provide necessary support for the investigation.
Sources said that 47 artifacts from Mahasthan Museum were selected in 2007 for display at the Guimet Museum in France. However, the exhibition plan was reportedly canceled after one artifact went missing at the airport. Following their return, the artifacts were stored at the museum without undergoing any scientific testing or expert verification.
Only a few of the returned items are currently on display, while the majority have remained in storage for years. Questions regarding their authenticity and condition have persisted for a long time.
The issue gained renewed attention on May 11 during a monthly law-and-order committee meeting of the Shibganj Upazila Parishad, where several members raised concerns about the authenticity of the returned artifacts. Following the discussion, authorities ordered an immediate investigation and formed a nine-member local inquiry committee headed by Shibganj Upazila Executive Officer Ziaur Rahman.
The newly formed expert team will inspect, examine, and verify the artifacts preserved at Mahasthan Museum before submitting a detailed report. Future decisions regarding the artifacts' authenticity, conservation status, and management will be based on the findings of both investigations.
Speaking yesterday, Ziaur Rahman said the local committee's investigation period had been extended by 15 working days. He also confirmed that the university authorities had informed him about the formation of the expert team, although the schedule for the team's visit has not yet been finalized.
