Bangladesh is set to remove the image of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of Sheikh Hasina and the iconic figure behind the founding of the country, from its currency notes.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh Bank is printing new notes, including the features of the July uprising referring to the student-led protests forcing Hasina to flee the country on August 5.
According to the central bank, banknotes of Taka 20, 100, 500, and 1,000 are being printed on the instructions of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The new notes will not include the image of 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Religious structures, Bengali traditions and "graffiti" drawn during the July uprising will be included.
The new notes are expected to be released within the next six months.
Initially, the design of the four notes is being changed, and the others will be redesigned in phases, said authorities.
The Finance Ministry's Finance Institute Division submitted a detailed design proposal for the new notes in September.
The protest against the controversial job quota system under the Hasina-led government saw attacks on the legacy of Mujibur Rahman as well. His statues and murals were targeted and damaged by the protesters.
Hasina in her first public address attacked Yunus and said he is involved in 'genocide' and killing of minorities including Hindus.
The Awami League supremo alleged that there were plans to assassinate her and her sister Sheikh Rehana just like their father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was murdered in 1975.
Hasina, who is currently in India, said that the armed protesters were directed towards Ganabhaban. "If the security guards opened fire, many lives would have been lost...I told them (guards) not to fire no matter what happened."
"Today, I am being accused of genocide. In reality, Yunus has been involved in genocide in a meticulously designed manner. The masterminds—the student coordinators and Yunus—are behind this genocide," she added.
After Hasina's oustal, Bangladesh has been witnessing widespread attacks against minorities. India has expressed deep concerns over the rising incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities.
