Discussion on newly found Vishnu statue held
By Robab Rosan
A discussion on the newly found Vishnu statue was held at the auditorium of the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh .in Dhaka on 12 June, 2008.
Eminent archaeologist AKM Zakaria, Professor Mozammel Haque of Jahangirnagar University, Mosharraf Hossain of the department of archaeology, government of Bangladesh, and Manzurul Alam, editor of Dainik Samatat Barta of Brahmanbaria, among others, took part at the discussion.
The speakers discussed the different features of the Vishnu statue, which was found at the village Sultanpur in Brahmanbaria district during the digging of a pond on June 14. According to the discussants this five-foot statue is considered one of the biggest statues of Lord Vishnu of Hindu mythology found in Bangladesh.
They assumed that the statue would be an iconograph of Early Pala Dynasty, which dates back to approximately ninth century AD. They further said that as the statue embodied many local features, an extensive research was needed to define the exact date of the statue. The statue proves that the small kingdoms of the region were culturally rich during that period.
The discussants also laid importance on the materials of the piece. They informed the audience that any authentic research was yet to be held to test the material of the statue. It was possibly moulded with black basalt or clay stone, they added.
They stressed the importance of discovering, collecting and properly preserving these valuable archaeological art pieces. They hoped that the concerned authorities would take necessary action in collecting the icons and other art pieces found across the country.
The statue is now in the custody of the local police station.
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