Bangladesh Bank has printed notes of various denominations worth nearly Tk40bn ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr against an estimated demand of Tk120bn.
As there is a previous stock of Tk80bn notes, supply will not be hampered against the demand, said the central bank sources.
The central bank said the 10-taka notes printed amounted to 50m worth Tk500m while the 50-taka notes printed were 40m worth Tk2bn, 100-taka notes 70m worth Tk7bn, 500-taka notes 40m worth Tk20bn and 1000-taka notes 10m worth Tk10bn.
Since the stock is enough, no new 2-taka and 5-taka notes were printed this time.
“We have sufficient amount of new notes to meet Eid demand. So, no limit will be put on distribution,” said SK Sur Chowdhury, deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank.
Bangladesh Bank general manager AFM Asaduzzaman said the central bank began releasing new notes from the first day of Ramadan.
The new notes will be available at all the branches of central bank, National Press Club and Agrani Bank’s Elephant Road branch, Sonali Bank’s Ramna and Bangabandhu Avenue branches, Janata Bank’s New Market branch, Pubali Bank’s Sadarghat branch, Social Islami Bank’s Bashundhara City Market branch, Dutch-Bangla Bank’s Gulshan branch, Southeast Bank’s Kawran Bazar branch, Prime Bank’s Malibagh branch and National Bank’s Jatrabari branch.
The exchange of new notes of old ones will continue until the Eid-ul-Fitr, said the officials.
Since the beginning of Ramadan, people has been crowding Bangladesh Bank booths to collect new notes. A good number of brokers and retailers were seen selling notes outside the banks.
Meanwhile, the central bank has been conducting awareness campaign to make the people careful about fake notes.
“We are trying to raise mass awareness against fake notes through publishing advertisements in print media,” said Md Mozibar Rahman, general manager of Bangladesh Bank.
He said the spread of fake notes has eased comparatively this year than the last year due to taking of various actions.
“We have not received any news of fake notes yet ahead of the upcoming Eid festival,” said Mozibar Rahman.
