Darya-e-Noor diamond in Bangladesh? Dhaka eyes to unveil the mystery

History has recorded that the Daria-i-Noor (Persian for ‘Sea of Light’ or ‘Ocean of Light’, also spelt Darya-ye Noor and Daria-i-Nur, is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world, weighing an estimated 182 carats. Its colour, pale pink, is one of the rarest to be found in diamonds. The diamond is currently in the Iranian National Jewels collection of the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran.

During the reign of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, an elaborate frame was crafted from 457 smaller diamonds and four rubies, crowned by Iran’s imperial insignia. However, another diamond with the same name is said to be in a private collection in Bangladesh

Could one of the world’s most mysterious diamonds be sitting unnoticed in a bank vault in Bangladesh? The interim government in Dhaka has ordered the unsealing of a state-run bank’s vault, believed to possibly contain the Dariya-e-Noor; the legendary sister diamond of the Kohinoor.

Both gems are believed to have originated from the Golconda mines in southern India. While the Kohinoor is currently in the UK, the Dariya-e-Noor has not been officially seen for decades. So how did it supposedly reach Bangladesh? And what do we really know about its origins?

It’s a well-known fact that diamonds/jewellery, artefacts and other valuables were looted from India in the past. So, such revelations could bring some answers to India…even though the loot has not yet been returned to the country of origin.