Last Updated:
Bangladesh Bank also said the existing paper notes and metal coins will continue to remain in circulation alongside the new notes.
New Bangladesh Banknotes Feature Temples, Palaces, And Artwork
Bangladesh began issuing new banknotes, which no longer feature the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father and former prime minister.
It replaces the texts and numbers in Bengali with English. The new notes featured traditional landmarks of the country.
Initially, these newly designed notes will be issued from Bangladesh Bank’s Motijheel office, and subsequently from its other branch offices across the country.
Before
Bangladesh banknotes featured the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding president and leader of the Awami League. The notes had text and numbers in Bengali.
After
The new banknotes have undergone a significant transformation, including,
Language: Bengali text and numbers have been replaced with English.
Design: The portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been removed.
New Features: The notes now showcase traditional landmarks, Hindu and Buddhist temples, Historical palaces and artwork by late painter Zainul Abedin, which depicts the Bengal famine during British colonial rule.
Late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led Bangladesh from its independence from Pakistan in 1971 until soldiers assassinated him and most of his family in a 1975 coup.
“Under the new series and design, the notes will not feature any human portraits, but will instead showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks,” Bangladesh Bank spokesman Arif Hossain Khan told AFP.
The design change isn’t new; it reflects shifting politics. After Bangladesh gained independence in 1972, initial notes featured a map. Later, notes showcased Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Awami League leader, who was also the party leader during Hasina’s 15-year tenure in power.
Bangladesh Bank also said the existing paper notes and metal coins will continue to remain in circulation alongside the new notes.
The bank has also printed non-exchangeable specimen notes of Tk1,000, Tk50, and Tk20, catering to the interests of currency collectors.
- First Published:
