Dhaka: Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Ahsan H Mansur today announced that the government is set to introduce new currency notes ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, with designs emphasizing national heritage rather than portraits.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the new Tk1,000, Tk 50, and Tk 20 banknotes will be released into circulation before Eid-ul-Azha. The notes will not feature any human portraits but will, instead, showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks of Bangladesh. Governor Mansur made this announcement while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the "Credit Enhancement Scheme (CEC)" organized by the Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) at the PKSF auditorium in the city.
PKSF Chairman Zakir Ahmed Khan presided over the event, with Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Hoe Yun Jeong and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Najma Mubarak as special guests. During the event, Mansur highlighted that the new banknotes will display images of mosques, temples, historical landmarks, and natural sceneries, emphasizing that they will not include images of any person.
Addressing inquiries from journalists, the BB governor elaborated on the types of monuments to be featured on these notes, stating, "Some historically significant monuments will be printed on these notes, be it a mosque or a temple. We are not differentiating on this matter."
On the subject of retrieving money laundered abroad, Mansur mentioned that it remains a political commitment of the interim government. He noted that the international community is under pressure to act, with major media outlets such as The Financial Times, The Times of London, and Al Jazeera publishing extensive articles about Bangladesh's illicit money laundering cases.
Governor Mansur also discussed the newly launched credit enhancement scheme at PKSF, where the foundation will provide bank loan guarantees to partner microfinance institutions (MFIs) through a reserve fund of 240 crore taka. A one-time 0.5 percent commission will apply for each guarantee, aiming to facilitate small businesses in securing loans from formal financial institutions. Supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the interim government, the scheme aims to boost access to finance for micro-entrepreneurs across Bangladesh.
Mansur concluded by urging financial institutions to enhance financial literacy nationwide. He emphasized the need for every school to partner with a bank to educate students on basic financial skills, advocating for a long-term investment in national economic awareness.