After months of Sheikh Hasina’s departure from Bangladesh, the country is making a significant change by removing the image of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman—Hasina’s father and one of Bangladesh’s founding leaders—from its currency notes. According to the media, the Bangladesh Bank has started printing new notes highlighting the July uprising, a student-led anti-quota movement opposing Hasina’s government.
Following instructions from the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, the central bank has begun printing Tk20, 100, 500, and 1000 denominations without Rahman’s portrait. Instead, the new notes will feature religious landmarks, traditional Bengali motifs, and graffiti inspired by the protests.
This decision follows a media report revealing that Rahman’s portrait was removed from Yunus’ office, perceived as a gesture of goodwill toward student protest leaders. Bangladesh Bank spokesperson and Executive Director Husneara Shikha stated that the printing process is well underway, and the new notes are expected to enter circulation within six months. Initially, only the design of four denominations is being altered, but all notes will eventually be redesigned to exclude Rahman’s image, officials confirmed.
A detailed design proposal was submitted to the central bank on September 29 by the Finance Ministry’s Finance Institute Division, while final recommendations are pending approval from the Currency and Design Advisory Committee.
Rahman, often regarded as Bangladesh’s “Father of the Nation,” faced criticism during the student protests targeting the government quota system. His statues and murals were defaced as tensions escalated following Hasina’s departure to India. Hasina is reportedly still residing in a neighboring country.
In her recent statements, Hasina also criticized Yunus for allegedly failing to safeguard minority communities, including Hindu community, in Bangladesh. However, the International Crimes Tribunal dismissed her remarks as “hate speech,” while leaders of the interim government labeled them as part of a smear campaign against Yunus’ administration.
