PM releases new currency notes with Bangabandhu's picture

DHAKA, Aug 11 (BSS) - Currency notes of five different denominations with picture of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman were released today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally released the notes of Tk 2, Tk 5, Tk 100, Tk 500 and Tk 1000 denominations at her office here this morning, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told journalists.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman and artist Quaiyum Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.

Advisers to the Prime Minister HT Imam, Dr Mashiur Rahman, Dr
Gawher Rizvi, Dr Alauddin Ahmed, Professor Syed Modasser Ali,
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister M A Karim, PMO Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman, Finance Secretary Dr Mohammad Tariq, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Governor Ziaul Hassan Siddiqui and artist Mustafa Manwar were present, among others.

Addressing the function, the Prime Minister said her government has been working with sincerity and honesty for changing the lot of the common people through ensuring their economic emancipation. "We are striving hard so that people can enjoy the benefits of our independence" she added.

Paying rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said at a time when Bangabandhu was building the war-ravaged nation, the anti- liberation forces brutally killed him along with most of the family members on the fateful night of August 15 in 1975.

"We, the two sisters, escaped the carnage luckily," she said, adding that through the killing of Bangabandhu, the assailants not only killed the great leader but they also stopped the wheels of the country's progress and development.

Sheikh Hasina said that if Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had remained alive, the country would have become a developed one 20 years back.

She said Bangabandhu always strived for bringing smiles on the faces of the common people. "We are also working to achieve the same goal," the Prime Minister added.

Sheikh Hasina said people are the real owner of the Republic and called upon all to work unitedly so that rural people also get the benefits of economic development.

Terming today as a historic day, she hoped that the new generation would learn about the country's rich heritage and culture through the newly- released currency notes.

She said the visually impaired people would also be able to identify the new notes due to their different sizes.

The Prime Minister thanked Bangladesh Bank and the artists and designers for their contribution to releasing the new currency notes.

Later, the finance minister presented a crest with the newly released currency notes to the Prime Minister, while Bangladesh Bank governor presented an album of the currency notes.

Bangladesh Bank sources said the new currency notes were released marking the country's 40th anniversary of independence.

Initially, the sources said, these new-design notes will be issued only from the Motijheel office. However, later these notes will be available at all offices of the bank and also at commercial banks.

Apart from the new notes, all the existing notes and coins will also remain exchangeable in the market, the sources added.

Posted in: PM releases new currency notes with Bangabandhu's picture