Exhibition of Bangladeshi artefacts to boost image

French Ambassador Jacques Andre Costilhes speaks at a press conference at a city hotel yesterday.Photo: STAR

An international exhibition of Bangladeshi archaeological masterpieces scheduled to begin at Guimet Museum in Paris on October 24 would be a tremendous image booster for the country, French Ambassador Jacques Andre Costilhes said yesterday.
But it might be cancelled if the court's stay order on the sending of 189 artefacts to France continues for a longer period, he added.
The exhibition will showcase artefacts from Bangladesh museums under an agreement signed between the cultural affairs ministry and the government of France.
But on September 17, the High Court stalled the sending of the artefacts to Paris as it found irregularities in the agreement. The stay order came following a writ petition. The stay order has now been extended by next two months.
The petitioners feared that the precious items which would be sent to Paris might not be returned.
At a press conference yesterday, the French ambassador said any suggestion that those items may not be returned is objectionable and insulting.
As the French government is directly involved in the process, it guarantees the return of the items, he said, adding that this project of exhibition is clean, cooperative and transparent.
"Every year the French government arranges dozens of such international exhibitions. Lending and borrowing such artefacts is very common worldwide," the ambassador said, adding that one of the most valuable masterpieces, the Mona Lisa, has been sent to the USA and Japan for exhibition.
Those who filed the petition with the High Court were also invited at the press conference.
Jean Romnicianu, deputy head of French Embassy, and Vincent Lefevre, conservator of Guimet Museum, also spoke at the press conference.