DHAKA : Bangladesh’s interim government has taken another step in eroding the legacy of ‘Bangabandhu’ Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the nation. On Monday, Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of Bangladesh, unveiled new currency notes that will soon come into circulation – however, these won’t feature Bangabandhu on it.
Critics of the Yunus Government see this as an effort to wipe out the legacy of the Father of the Nation. This comes after other similar steps, like rewriting history books and diluting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s contribution in Bangladesh’s freedom struggle, and removing his statues from several prominent locations.
Instead of Sheikh Mujib, the redesigned Taka notes feature the cultural landmarks of Bangladesh. Since 1971, when Bangladesh gained independence from West Pakistan, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman’s image has featured on all banknotes.
Justifying the decision to remove Bangabandhu’s image, authorities in Bangladesh say that the move is a step towards depoliticising national symbols amid heightened political tension in the country.
