New-look Tk 500 banknote to be released tomorrow

Bangladesh Bank will release a newly designed Tk 500 banknote on Thursday as part of a series featuring the country’s historical and archaeological landmarks.

The decision to redesign all circulating denominations was taken by the interim government following the student-led mass uprising in 2024.

The new note will initially be issued from the central bank’s Motijheel office, with other branches to follow, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

Signed by Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur, the note measures 152 mm by 65 mm.

The front side carries an image of the Central Shaheed Minar on the left, while the national flower – shapla – with leaves and buds appears in the watermark area. The reverse features a picture of the Supreme Court building.

A Royal Bengal Tiger’s face serves as another watermark, beneath which the numeral “500” and the Bangladesh Bank monogram are visible in electrotype. The dominant colour of the note is green.

For enhanced security, the note incorporates 10 special features. These include colour-changing ink that shifts the “500” on the right from green to blue when tilted, and a red-and-gold twisted security thread that displays “Tk 500” when held to light.

Five raised circles on the lower right side assist the visually impaired, while selected portions, including the Shaheed Minar and the denomination, are printed in intaglio for tactile recognition.

Bangladesh Bank stated that the note is the latest in its new series titled “Historical and Archaeological Architecture of Bangladesh”.

New designs of Tk 20, Tk 50, Tk 100 and Tk 1,000 notes have already been introduced earlier.

The existing Tk 500 notes and coins will continue to remain legal tender.

A special non-exchangeable specimen note has also been printed for collectors and will be available at a fixed price from the Taka Museum in Mirpur.