The Bangladesh Bank has officially introduced a new series of banknotes that notably exclude the portrait of the country’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, replacing it with natural landscapes and cultural landmarks as part of a sweeping redesign of national currency.
The move has sparked significant debate and political reaction across the country and abroad, particularly due to its symbolic departure from decades of tradition. Since the nation’s independence, all Bangladeshi banknotes had prominently featured Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, widely revered as the architect of Bangladesh and the first President of the Republic.
According to Arif Hossain Khan, spokesperson for Bangladesh Bank, the decision reflects a new direction in national design aesthetics, aimed at highlighting the country’s geography, heritage, and architectural identity, while depersonalizing state symbols.
“Under the new series and design, the notes will not feature any human portraits, but will instead showcase natural landscapes and traditional landmarks,” Khan told AFP. He confirmed that the existing currency featuring Mujib’s portrait will remain in circulation alongside the new series.
While the central bank has not commented directly on the political implications, the redesign comes amid rising tensions and deep political shifts in the country following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, earlier this year. Critics view the move as an intentional erasure of national history and a politically motivated snub targeting the legacy of the Hasina family.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from pro-India analysts and observers who have historically seen Mujibur Rahman as a bridge between Bangladesh and India, given his close relations with India’s leadership during the 1971 Liberation War. The currency redesign may signal a broader ideological pivot by the current Bangladeshi leadership, possibly influenced by factions seen as more aligned with anti-India sentiment.
Meanwhile, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, a critic of the Hasina government and a figure often regarded with suspicion in India for his perceived alignment with Western interests, has been linked by commentators to the current shift in national messaging. However, Bangladesh Bank has not confirmed any direct involvement from Yunus in the currency decision.
As public debate intensifies, the government has yet to officially comment on the long-term plan regarding the future of Mujibur Rahman’s image in national institutions and memorials. Opposition groups and civic organizations are expected to challenge the decision in public forums and possibly through legal channels.
The new notes are expected to enter widespread circulation in the coming weeks.