Archaeologists have found the man who had discovered a copperplate mentioning a millennium-old higher-learning centre in Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar

The five-member team led by Dr Md Ataur Rahman, the regional director of the Department of Archaeology, found 90-year-old Paresh Paul, who unearthed the copperplate in 1958.

Paresh had found the inscribed copperplate while excavating a pond near his house in Paschimbhag village of Rajnagar, said Dr Md Ataur while talking to journalists after the three-day search for ruins of ancient Chandrapur University ended yesterday.

The team of archaeologists inspected Paresh's house and other places in the village.

Although they failed to locate any trace of "Chandrapur University", the village in the north-western part of Panchgaon union under Rajnagar still stands as a witness of ancient history, Dr Md Ataur Rahman added.

Paresh Paul, 90, (second from left) with the team of archaeologists. Photo: Star

Broken pieces of ancient pottery are still found in various places in this area, the regional director said, adding that the delegation thinks the area is culturally important.

After Paresh's discovery in 1958, Aminur Rashid Chowdhury (deceased) -- editor of local newspaper Jugaveri -- collected the copperplate from him and sent it to the Ministry of Culture through the then deputy commissioner. 

The five-member team started their search on Saturday in Kulaura upazila of Sylhet. They surveyed sites in Juri upazila on Sunday and ended their operation at Rajnagar upazila. The other members of the survey team included Field Officer Shahin Alam, Assistant Custodian Hafizur Rahman, Research Assistant Omar Farooq and Surveyor Chaithoai Marma.

On July 15, the additional director of the Department of Archaeology wrote a letter to the regional director of the Chattogram and Cumilla Archaeological Department and in-charge of the Sylhet region stating that an on-site survey and inspection report is required on the Chandrapur University and antiquities of Srihatta established by King Srichandra of the Chandra dynasty.

In the letter, the additional director also directed to send a report along with photographs and opinions after inspecting the site to see if there is any scope for preservation and renovation under the Universities and Antiquities Act 197.