The 1,500-year-old Vishnu idol recovered in Pabna has been handed over to the Department of Archaeology

ছবিঃ সিএনআই

Pabna Correspondent:
An ancient Vishnu idol recently recovered in the Chatmohar upazila of Pabna has been formally handed over to the Department of Archaeology.

On Tuesday, 29 July, at noon, the idol was transferred at the Handiyal Police Investigation Centre by Chatmohar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Musa Naser Chowdhury to A K M Saifur Rahman, Director of the Bogura regional office (Rajshahi–Rangpur division) of the Department of Archaeology.

Among those present were Md. Hafizur Rahman, Assistant Custodian of the Puthia Palace complex, Md. Atiqur Rahman, Officer‑in‑Charge of the Handiyal Police Investigation Centre, SI Sanjit Karmakar, ASI Anwar Hossain, pond owner Lokman Hossain, local elected representatives, and journalists.

According to Assistant Custodian Md. Hafizur Rahman, the idol measures 26.5 inches in height and 12.5 inches in width. It will first be conserved at the Department’s Bogura regional office and later moved for permanent display at the museum in the Tarash Bhavan, Pabna.

UNO Musa Naser Chowdhury added that the black‑stone idol is estimated to be about 1,500 years old, likely dating to the Pala or Sena period. Carved in fine detail, it depicts the deity Vishnu in perfect iconography and will greatly aid research into Chatmohar’s historical heritage.

Background:
At around 12 p.m. on Friday, 25 July, the idol was discovered while fish were being caught in the pond of Lokman Hossain in Majhgram village of Nimaichara Union. Acting on the report, Officer‑in‑Charge Atiqur Rahman and his force recovered the artifact.