Sun 23 Dec 2007
At approximately 2 am on Dec 22, one of the 13 crates in the 2nd shipment of artifacts to Musee Guimet in Paris vanished from the tarmac of ZIA International Airport, Dhaka.
The missing crate is Crate # 5, which corresponds to Item 19 & 20 in the Artefact List From French Embassy.
Visnu/Clay/70 x 36 x 14,5 cm/Bangladesh National Museum/E-94.2385/19
Bust of Visnu/Clay/47 x 39 x 17 cm/Bangladesh National Museum/E-69.123/20
Catalogue
Page 144 (Visnu Text)
Page 145 (Visnu Statue)
Page 146 (Visnu Bust)
Chronology
1. Storm: For months controversy rages over proposed lending of artifacts to Musee Guimet. Shipment bound for France is blocked by authorities. Court case, led by Advocate Tania Ameer, blocks shipment for two months, forcing postponementg of October opening of Guimet show.
2. Protest: Finally Upper Court vacates lawsuit, clearing path for shipment to France. First shipment leaves for Paris in the face of protests at national museum. Debate escalates on national television. French Embassy & Musee Guimet respond to protester charges.
3. On Patriotism: The rhetoric heats up. People supporting the show are accused of being “France er dalal”.
4. Final Countdown: A new court motion is filed by Barrister Amirul Islam, blocking the second shipment. Vacation bench of court overturns the Islam motion, clearing way for second shipment. On Eid day, second shipment of crates sent to ZIA airport.
[Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/Drik News]
5. The Fix: At 1:00 am French embassy officials complete all customs formalities for shipment of the artifacts. GOB videotapes proceedings. French officials leave airport. At 2 am representatives of Homebound count crates again and discover one crate has vanished. Joint Forces seal off ZIA Airport. Civil Aviation authorities questioned.
[Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/Drik News]
6. The Tamasha: Ansars working at Airport arrested. Jahangir Alam of National Museum & Zakaria of Varendra Museum arrested. Emergency meeting of Culture Ministry. Empty crate found at pond near airport.
7. The Big Payback: Crate 5 contained Statue of Visnu (terracota, black) & Bust of Visnu. High resale value on international underground art market as they are unique pieces.
Post Comments Here
December 25th, 2007 at 3:04 am
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