Country overview

Polymer overview

General information

Words of Dr Mohammad Farashuddin, the Governor of the Central Bank of Bangladesh at the time: "We have started our advance with the 10 Taka polymer bank note, and gradually we will print all our bank notes on polymer. Polymer is much more secure than paper notes. Although initially the cost is higher, considering the longevity of the note, it is much more profitable in the end." In February 2001, Dr Farashuddin, at a meeting of a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Ministry, added that all notes of the Taka currency would be standardised in two separate sizes; notes of Tk. 100 and Tk. 500 in one size, and others in another size by the next two and a half years. He also said that the notes will gradually be converted to polymer notes.

On 07.01.02 Bangladesh replaced its polymer 10 Taka note with a paper one, probably due to changes in central bank's leadership.

Bangladesh Bank

Bank notes

S1R1 issued on 14.12.00.

Most bank notes exhibit slight variations in background printing on the back (red/white colour variations of the repeating hexagonal patterns). While some collectors maintain that there are two varieties, we attribute this to normal variations in the printing process, warranting no separate reference.

Bangladesh, 10 Taka, issued in 2000. Front: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1921-1975). Bangladeshi first Prime Minister, regarded by some as the father of the nation. His portrait appeared on early Bangladeshi notes. Assasinated, along with most of his family, in 1975. The Government changed subsequently and his portrait was removed from the notes. His daughter Sheikh Hasina Wajed was abroad at the time and she survived to become Bangladeshi Prime Minister in 1996. She reinstated her father's portrait on some of the notes. The National Mosque at right. Back: The National Parliament, the National Mausoleum at left, and a satellite dish at right.

The front of the note carries the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu is an honorary title meaning "Friend of Bengal". Whilst Bangladeshi first Prime Minister and regarded by some as the father of the nation, he is not revered by all. His portrait had been featured on early Bangladeshi issues, but was replaced on subsequent issues following his assassination in August 1975 and a consequent change of government. Most of his immediate family were slain, except for one daughter who was overseas at the time. This daughter, Sheikh Hasina Wajed, became Prime Minister in 1996 and re-instated her father's portrait to three denominations including the (polymer) 10 Taka. Also featured on the front is Baital Mokarram, the national mosque, located in Dhaka. Bangladesh's national bird, the Doyel (magpie robin) is shown just above the see-through panel. Orientation bands to assist in counting and verification are at top and bottom to the left.

Portrayed on the back is the National Parliament (Jatiya Sangrad) and the National Memorial or more correctly the National Mausoleum, Jatiya Shaheed Smirti Sandha. Located at Savar, outside Dhaka, it was designed by Moinul Hussain and was built to commemorate Bengalis who lost their lives in the civil war between East and West Pakistan which led to the establishment of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan). To the right of the Parliament building a satellite dish at the Betbunia Satellite Earth Station in Chittagong is depicted. The Bank's Coat of Arms is directly above the dish.

Blossoms of the Shapla flower form a vertical edge pattern on both the front and the back of the note.

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Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1921-1975)