Bangladesh Bank is set to release banknotes of five denominations with the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Thursday.

The notes of Tk 2, Tk 5, Tk 100, Tk 500 and Tk 1,000 will be issued initially from the central bank's Motijheel office counter in Dhaka, the regulator said in a statement yesterday.

The banknotes will later be released from other offices of the central bank and all commercial banks.

Alongside the new notes, the banknotes and metal coins now in circulation will also remain valid, according to the statement.

The Tk 2 note will bear the signature of Finance Secretary Mohammad Tareq, while the other bank notes will carry the signature of BB Governor Atiur Rahman.

All the notes have been printed on a more durable paper mixed with synthetic fibre. The portrait of Bangabandhu has been printed on the front side of the notes while the National Memorial has been printed in light colours in the background.

The Tk 2 note has the picture of the Central Shaheed Minar, Tk 5 note has the picture of Kusumba Mosque in Naogaon, Tk 100 note has Star Mosque, Tk 500 note contain the scenery of agricultural farming. The Tk 1,000 note contains the image of Jatiya Sangsad.

Except for the Tk 2 note, Bangladesh Bank is written on the backside of all notes.

The Tk 500 and Tk 1,000 notes have seven lines in special ink on the right side, which can be easily felt on touch. The Tk 500 note has four small dots for the benefit of the visually impaired people while the Tk 1,000 note has five small dots.

News: The Daily Star/ Bangladesh/ Aug-02-2011