PABNA, March 7, (V7N) - An ancient stone idol of Lord Vishnu was discovered and seized during pond renovation in Baghalbari Kai village, Handial Union, Chatmohar upazila of Pabna on Saturday morning.

The idol, made of rough stone and found in two fragments, surfaced around 11 am while workers were digging the Math Pond with an excavator. Local fishermen cultivating fish under the Nimgachi project had been overseeing the renovation.

Upon being informed, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Musa Naser Chowdhury and police rushed to the site and seized the statue. It has since been kept at the Handial Police Investigation Center.

UNO Chowdhury said: “A fragment of an ancient Vishnu statue has been found in the monastery pond of Baghalbari Kai village. The process of handing over the historical artifact to the Department of Archaeology is underway. The department will confirm whether the statue is limestone and determine its age.”

Members of the local Hindu community identified the idol as belonging to Vishnu, one of the principal deities of Hinduism. Residents believe the statue indicates the presence of an ancient temple or structure in the area that was later buried underground.

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