TBT DESK: Bangladesh is set to introduce new banknotes with fresh designs, some of which will notably exclude the image of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman before Eid-ul-Azha.
The new currency designs will instead feature the themes of the July Revolution martyrs, youth, the Sundarbans, and various aspects of heritage and culture.
Sources indicate that the Tk 20 note, featuring the images of Kantajiu Temple and Buddhist temples, will be released on May 27.
The Tk 50 note, adorned with Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin's famine painting and Atia Mosque, is expected to be in circulation on May 29 or 30. The Tk 1000 note, showcasing the Bangabhaban and the National Martyrs' Memorial, is scheduled for release on June 2. Due to delays in paper supply from Europe, the Tk 5 note, featuring the likenesses of Abu Sayeed and Mugdha, will be introduced after Eid.
Arif Hossain Khan, the spokesperson and executive director of Bangladesh Bank, confirmed the development, saying, "The designs for the new banknotes have already been finalised."
"The paper has been procured and the printing of several different notes, including the Tk 1000 one, has begun. This time, no note will feature a full human portrait. Instead, the new note designs will incorporate the themes of the July Revolution martyrs, youth, the Sundarbans and various aspects of heritage and culture," he added.
A Bangladesh Bank official further elaborated that the Tk 5 note will feature the images of Abu Sayeed and Mugdha, while the Tk 10 note will display a symbol of youth unity and the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.
The Tk 100 note will depict the UNESCO-recognised Sundarbans' spotted deer and tiger, symbolising the currency transformation after the previous government's departure. The Tk 200 note will feature symbols of religious diversity, including a mosque, temple, church and pagoda, and the Tk 500 note will carry the image of the historic Ahsan Manzil.
The design, paper, security features, and all other aspects of the new banknotes involve international collaboration, and the entire process, including tendering, typically takes 5 to 7 months. Consequently, the plan to release the notes before Eid al-Fitr could not be fully realised.
Historically, Bangladesh introduced its own paper currency on March 4, 1972, following independence.
The first note, featuring a map, was a Tk 1 denomination. In 1973, Bangladesh issued Tk 5, Tk 10, and Tk 100 notes.
Subsequently, Tk 50 and Tk 500 notes were introduced in 1976. The Tk 20 note was issued in 1979, and the Tk 2 note was launched in 1988. On July 17, 2009, the highest denomination banknote, the Tk 1000, was introduced.
The most recent addition was the Tk 200 note in 2020.