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TL;DR
- The interim government of Bangladesh plans to redesign currency notes, removing the image of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from Tk20, Tk100, Tk500, and Tk1,000 denominations.
- The Ministry of Finance has instructed Bangladesh Bank to submit new design proposals, with the Currency and Design Advisory Committee evaluating these changes.
- This decision marks a departure from the previous practice under the Sheikh Hasina government, which prominently featured Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s image on currency.
- The redesign process is expected to take nearly two years, with current notes being gradually replaced over several years.
The interim government of Bangladesh has announced a significant redesign of the nation’s currency, affecting the Tk20, Tk100, Tk500, and Tk1,000 denominations. This redesign will notably exclude the image of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a prominent figure previously featured on all Bangladeshi banknotes.
The Ministry of Finance and Bangladesh Bank confirmed this decision, marking a departure from the current designs that prominently display Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s image. Initially, only the four mentioned denominations will undergo changes, but officials indicated that all denominations will eventually be redesigned in a phased manner.
A letter from the Ministry of Finance, dated September 29, instructed Bangladesh Bank to submit detailed design proposals for the new notes. The central bank’s Currency and Design Advisory Committee is tasked with evaluating and recommending these changes. The letter emphasized the urgency of this task: “It is requested to send the specific proposal to the finance division as soon as possible after accepting the recommendation of the Currency and Design Advisory Committee of the Bangladesh Bank.”
This move represents a significant shift from past practices under the Sheikh Hasina government, which prominently featured Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s likeness on both sides of several notes and even on coins. Currently, all paper notes in Bangladesh—from Tk2 to Tk1,000—bear his photo.
The redesign process is expected to take nearly two years, with current notes being gradually replaced over several years. The central bank has requested six months to prepare new designs for various banknotes.
Historically, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s image has been a fixture on Bangladeshi currency since independence in 1972. Over the years, different governments have made changes to currency designs, including removing his image under some administrations. However, the Awami League government reintroduced his portrait on various denominations after returning to power in 2009.
This decision has sparked discussions about its implications and what it symbolizes for Bangladesh’s political and cultural landscape.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
