Fresh banknotes unlikely to feature Mujib's image
The image of the country’s founding president Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman could soon be removed from all Bangladeshi banknotes.
After the fall of Awami League government in the face of student-led July-August uprising, the Ministry of Finance has already asked Bangladesh Bank to submit design proposals for new banknotes, with likelihood that Mujib’s portrait will not appear on them.
According to finance ministry sources, the interim government plans to print new notes in denominations of Tk 20, Tk 100, Tk 500, and Tk 1000.
While these notes may not feature Mujib’s image, there is a possibility that his portrait will eventually be phased out from all currency notes.
However, the introduction of these new notes could take over a year and a half, said the officials concerned.
On September 29, a letter signed by Elish Sharmin, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry's Treasury and Debt Management Department, was sent to Bangladesh Bank requesting specific design proposals for the new notes.
The Currency and Design Advisory Committee of Bangladesh Bank, chaired by Deputy Governor-1 and supported by a team of artists, will play a key role in finalising the designs.
Currently, all banknotes feature Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portrait, with some notes displaying his image on both sides. His image also appears on metal coins. Even after the new notes are introduced, the existing notes will continue to circulate.
Since 1972, Mujib's image has been featured on Bangladeshi currency, starting with the post-independence release of Tk 1, Tk 5, Tk 10, and Tk 100 notes.
While new notes were introduced and old ones were phased out by different governments, it was under the Awami League government in 1996 that the practice of printing Mujib's portrait on all notes was solidified.
Currently, Bangladesh Bank issues banknotes in denominations of Tk 10, Tk 20, Tk 50, Tk 100, Tk 500, and Tk 1000, while the government issues Tk 1, Tk 2, and Tk 5 notes, as well as metal coins. Although smaller coins like 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 paisa are still legal tender, they are no longer issued.
