Tariqul Islam Liton came to Dhaka from Borguna when he was 20 and took work at an antique selling shop in Gulshan-2; however, after eight years, he began his own business and began smuggling of artefacts using the business as a cover, informed detective branch officials.
Tariqul, now 40, used to stash the artefacts with his brother, Monirul, who was arrested by police on 27 August last with a huge number of historical objects.
Among the recovered items are, ten statues made of touchstone, ancient copper inscriptions, coins and other items.
The drive was led by DMP ADC, Md. Bashir Uddin. On 28 August, DB inspector, Shahabuddin Azad, lodged a case under special acts at the Bhatara thana.
Tariqul Islam and his brother, Monirul, ran an antique and handicrafts shop named Kasha Centre in Gulshan DDC-2 market.
The police believe that they used to collect priceless artefacts from all over the country to smuggle them overseas.
Meanwhile, another key member of the team, Liton, is missing and police believe that once he is caught, details about their operation will become clear.
DMP, ADC, Md. Bashiruddin, told Bangla Tribune: “we have identified a syndicate engaged in selling priceless archeological items; efforts are being made to nab the other members of the group.”
Speaking on the recovered artefacts, Professor Sufi Mustafizur Rahman, told Bangla Tribune: “we believe the revered artefacts from between 7th and 13th centuries.”
The copper inscriptions are in Sanskrit and they usually contain administrative orders of a king, he said, asserting: “these are priceless.”