The long-awaited launch of new currency notes in Bangladesh is set to take place within the next six months, with denominations of Tk 20, Tk 100, Tk 500, and Tk 1,000 expected to be released into circulation.
Bangladesh Bank revealed the news, sparking widespread curiosity about the design changes. While the introduction of new notes is confirmed, the exact design details are still under wraps, according to Husne Ara Shikha, spokesperson and executive director of the central bank.
Sources close to Bangladesh Bank have suggested that the new notes may depart from tradition by omitting the iconic portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Instead, the design could feature Bangladesh’s national emblem or imagery from the July Revolution, which would reflect a more modern cultural and historical narrative.
Government approval for printing the new notes has already been granted, and they are expected to be introduced once the necessary procedures are completed. The redesign is set to overhaul the visual identity of Bangladesh’s currency, with possible depictions of religious sites, traditional Bengali motifs, and the evocative graffiti from the July Revolution, according to insights from the Security Printing Corporation and the Ministry of Finance.
The change is part of a long-term plan to phase out Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portrait from the country’s banknotes. The tendering process for printing the new notes is expected to begin this month, with the notes slated to enter circulation by June next year.
Currently, every denomination of Bangladeshi paper currency, ranging from Tk 2 to Tk 1,000, features the portrait of the Father of the Nation, and even the nation’s metallic coins carry his likeness. Despite the upcoming changes, Bangladesh Bank has assured the public that existing notes will remain in circulation alongside the new designs.
As the country awaits this significant update to its currency, the new notes are set to intertwine Bangladesh’s rich heritage with a forward-looking narrative.
(Source: UNB)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
