Centuries ago, a small glowing stone emerged from a cave in Andhra Pradesh, India. The stone shone so brightly that it appeared surreal. This luminous gem was named “Daria-i-Noor,” which means “Sea of Light.”
Though this extraordinary diamond resides in Bangladesh today, no Bangladeshi has actually seen it.
It is believed that Daria-i-Noor was discovered from the same mine as the world-famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, making it one of the most valuable diamonds in the world. According to Bangladesh on Record, a digital archive organization, Daria-i-Noor is unmatched in brilliance and clarity. It is a flawless table-cut diamond set in gold and adorned with ten pearls around it.
A photo published on May 31, 1851, in The Illustrated London News supports these claims about the diamond’s structure and beauty.
Initially, the diamond belonged to the Maratha rulers. Later, it was purchased for around 130,000 rupees by the royal family of Hyderabad. However, they didn’t keep it for long — it was taken by the Persian emperor.
Later, the powerful ruler of Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, seized it along with other treasures from the Persian king.
A Royal Journey Through History
When the British annexed Punjab in 1849, they looted both the Koh-i-Noor and the Daria-i-Noor from Ranjit Singh’s treasury. The British government studied both diamonds and traced their historical origins.
In 1850, a year after acquiring the diamonds, the British sent both to London as a tribute to Queen Victoria. While the Koh-i-Noor became an obsession of the British royal family, Daria-i-Noor attracted little attention. So, in 1852, it was auctioned by Hamilton & Company of Calcutta.
How the Daria-i-Noor Came to Dhaka
Present at the auction was a key historical figure: Nawab Khwaja Alimullah of Dhaka. He bought the Daria-i-Noor and brought it back to the city, where it remained in the Nawab family’s possession for decades.
But in 1908, things took a turn. Facing severe financial crisis, the Nawab family borrowed about 1.4 million taka from the Assam government and pledged 109 precious items — including the Daria-i-Noor — as collateral.
Since the loan was never repaid, the diamond was never returned.
Government Vaults and Vanishing Acts
As a pledged asset, the Daria-i-Noor eventually passed into the custody of government-run banks. Initially kept in the Imperial Bank of India, it was transferred to the State Bank of Pakistan after the 1947 Partition. Following Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, the diamond ended up in the vault of Sonali Bank.
But here’s the real mystery: No one has seen the diamond since it was pledged in 1908. For over 117 years, it has remained hidden — perhaps even forgotten.
Technically, the Daria-i-Noor is now under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, since it is a part of the Nawab estate. However, despite attempts, no inspection of the diamond has been successful under any government in Bangladesh.
For years, many assumed that the diamond had vanished. But after the public uprising on August 5, an official at Sonali Bank revealed to Prothom Alo that around ten years ago, a package labeled “Daria-i-Noor” was quietly moved to the Motijheel branch.
Records from the Ministry of Land confirm that the Nawab family’s valuables were moved from Sonali Bank’s Sadarghat branch to the Motijheel branch in 2011 for security reasons.
So, does Daria-i-Noor still exist in Dhaka?
Recently, the interim government has launched efforts to trace the legendary diamond’s existence. The Ministry of Land is actively pursuing its location. However, the troubling reality remains: in independent Bangladesh, no one has ever seen or even opened the box containing the Daria-i-Noor.
–Md.Zubayer Ibn Kamal
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