Old notes featuring Bangabandhu back in circulation

Old-design currency notes featuring the image of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman are being reintroduced to the market. Although these notes had previously been seized and replaced with new-design notes, a decision has now been made to gradually release the sealed old notes back into circulation.

Bankers said the old-design notes are being redistributed according to instructions from Bangladesh Bank. The central bank stated that since these notes were never formally demonetised, there is no legal barrier to releasing them.

Earlier, in the context of political change, a decision was made not to release the old notes, and new-design notes were introduced. However, as the supply of new notes has fallen short of demand, the previously printed notes are now being used.

Shafiqul Islam, General Manager of Sonali Bank, told the media that distribution of old notes had been halted during Eid-ul-Azha in 2025 but was later resumed following central bank instructions.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan told the media that it has not been possible to supply sufficient quantities of all types of new-design notes. Therefore, to meet demand, stockpiled old-design notes are being gradually released into the market.