Stories of folktale often tell of earthen clay pitchers (or ‘kalshi’, in Bangla) filled with hidden treasures buried underground. This time, that tale has turned into reality: an earthen pitcher containing 1,876 silver coins from the British era (East India Company period) has been unearthed.
A total of 1,876 silver coins were discovered on Saturday morning at Karpashdanga Bazar in Damurhuda upazila. Police later visited the spot and took the coins into custody.
Locals said Shahidul Islam, a businessman at the market, was digging the ground with an excavator to construct a shop when the pitcher surfaced. On opening it, the workers found it filled with coins.
A local goldsmith later examined the find and confirmed the coins were made of silver. The news quickly spread, drawing a large crowd of curious onlookers.
It is believed the coins were minted between 1865 and 1908.
Shahidul said he had been supervising the construction work in the morning when the excavator suddenly broke an earthen clay pitcher. “One of the workers lifted the broken pitcher and found it full of white coins. Later we learned they were silver,” he said.
Humayun Kabir, officer-in-charge of Damurhuda Model Police Station, said a team recovered the coins and brought them to the station. “They will be sent to Chuadanga for examination. Whether silver or any other metal, the coins will be deposited into the government treasury through the court,” he added.
