The artefact puzzle
Your front-page cartoon of December 26 speaks more than all the written words. Congratulations to the cartoonist for a professional job well done. The caretaker government has now changed its stand — a full 180 degrees.
Now that the caretaker government has decided to bring back all the items already sent to France, there may be even a demand for financial compensation for the last-minute 'about-turn' to an agreed proposal. The cost in time, effort and the expenses for the fruitless travel 'to and fro' for the artefacts might well have built many pucca dwellings for many unfortunate Sidr affected. All this happened because we acted without holding any meaningful dialogue with concerned people before sending the artefacts to a foreign country.
It is unfortunate that some criminals have managed to make a mockery of the solemn promise of the adviser concerned who ensured the safe return of the artefacts. However, fortunately for him he never promised the safe departure of these priceless statuettes so he has factually broken no promises!
SA Mansoor
Dhaka
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It is good news that the government finally decided not to send the artefacts to Guimet, or ask them not to hold the exhibition. But the damage has already been done — two priceless Vishnu statuettes stolen from Zia. We really don't know why the authorities concerned did not pay any heed to those who tried to prevent the shipment from going to France sensing that the move was fishy. Now it is revealed that it was perhaps a move of looting our valuable archaeological resources. The looters have the most up-to-date plan, technology and good connections. They are very mobile and extremely well informed, and are certainly no amateurs and their modus operandi points to criminal gangs at work. What it appears, it was perhaps an act of organised robbery and trafficking of archaeological treasures worldwide through the middlemen who try to get the valuable booty across the border as quickly as possible.
Sirajul Islam
Dhaka
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Thanks to the government for respecting the wish of the people at last, and putting back the remaining 12 packets of artefacts to the national museum.
The artefacts are priceless idols. These have both religious and historical values. From various media reports, one gets the impression that the issue is becoming complex especially due to the attitude of the French museum authorities.
We consider the decision of the adviser in charge of the Cultural Ministry to resign to be a very honolurable decision.
A reader
On e-mail
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The statement by the French Charge d' Affaires in Bangladesh Jean Romnicianu regarding two rare statuettes gone missing from Zia International Airport in Dhaka, which were up for shipment to Paris for display at the Guimet Museum, is as wayward as it is inflammatory.
The airport police said all the 13 boxes containing the 145 precious antiques were in the custody of the French embassy officials. But instead of assuming responsibility the envoy has blamed those who have apparently made 'propaganda' against the transfer of the relics. Such a statement has further infuriated the cultural activists, who have now been demanding the expulsion of this envoy.
Their resentment is understandable. The envoy's stance is completely out of tune with the conduct of the French envoys before him. France is known to be a country which greatly values civility and refinement and our experience would corroborate that. This is all the more reason why M. Romnicianu's deviation from diplomatic norm surprises and disappoints us. In the interest of continued friendly relations between Bangladesh and France, the French government will do well to recall him.
Gopal Sengupta
Canada
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Bangladesh government decided to send the artefacts for exhibition in France despite widespread protest from various quarters. The High Court Division of the Supreme Court even issued a stay order on sending the artefacts to France. However, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court stayed that verdict. The government started the shipment procedure without any delay. Two 1500-year-old Vishnu statuettes went missing while in the custody of Air France at the Zia International Airport Dhaka. The doubt expressed by various renowned personalities regarding the safe return of these artefacts has come true.
But who should be held responsible for this? The government of course — for ignoring public opinion and for acting in utmost irresponsible and callous manner.
Abu Musa Jaman
Dhaka
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The conspiracy theory that a 'state-sponsored smuggle' of valuable Bangladeshi artefacts in the guise of 'exhibiting the rich Bangladeshi culture aboard and thus brightening country's image' seems to have some ground. The second lot of the archaeological treasures were scheduled to be 'transported' on the Eid day. The organisation overseeing the whole process is alleged to have questionable past records and the French authorities have allegedly a history of sending back impeccable replicas. The whole process was shady and the concern of the people, including the experts in this field, was ignored if not suppressed.
The first lot went away (forever?) without a hiccup. And the group voicing their concern was branded as conspiracy-mongers. After the success of sending the first lot, the whole process apparently became a looting spree.
The 'missing artefact episode' is another glaring example of the utter indifference of the military-led government to public opinion.
Saif
Dhaka
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Exchanging artefacts between museums and cultural centres for public exhibitions are normal practices in civilised societies. I have seen many famous paintings at different museums in Sweden, Denmark and Norway where the museums very often borrowed collections from other museums for public shows. I visited three times Louvre Museum to have a look at Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa (or La Gioconda) but unfortunately it was on trips to Japan or America for public shows in all these three occasions. Fortunately, I had a sweet encounter with Mona Lisa in one of its trips in Denmark even though I did not feel so much thrilled by meeting it as I had expected.
Guimet Museum in France did a favour to Bangladesh by borrowing 143 artefacts for public exhibition in their country. Those who opposed this lending lack proper understanding of things and, to say the least, have no knowledge of arts and artefacts and are motivated by some other reasons for their opposition or are plain dishonest people. The story of Troy would have remained a story only if someone did not excavate the Troy site (a place close to Gallipoli and very close to the town of Canakkale in Turkey). Ramses the Great would have remained buried for ever under sand if he was not found and exhibited to people. 'Vishnu' and 'Bust of Vishnu', the statuettes that are from Gupta era of the seventh century, is not that old and it would have got more publicity and much attention from the people of Europe who admire and love such things very much. Why oppose to lend it to anybody who knows how to take care of it and make it known to culture-loving people? Why are we such strange people always ready to take a stance on wrong things?
I donated some very valuable dolls to the National Museum in Dhaka in October 2001 and I know what problems the director of the museum faced while accepting these and then exhibiting these because these were dolls and not good for Islamic people of Bangladesh. The Director had to rename the dolls as 'Symbols of World Civilisation'. What a strange people we are and we dare to talk so loudly about art and culture!
Now, the news that amid tight security, two 1,500-year-old terracotta Vishnu statuettes bound for an exhibition at Guimet Museum were stolen while in the custody of Air France at the Zia International Airport (ZIA). How that could happen is a million-dollar question. Those so-called art connoisseurs may kindly ponder for a while and explain to us why these were never stolen from the museum where these were kept in Dhaka with security arrangements lower than in the Dhaka airport.
Tayeb Husain
Lund, Sweden
