.Bangladesh - 100 and 200 Taka Commemorative Centenary of the Birth of Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman 1920-2020

গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ
(Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh)

Bangladesh Bank

Currency : Taka (BDT)

In honoring the Father of the Nation, the central bank, Bangladesh Bank, issued two notes of 100 and 200 taka to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman (a.k.a Sheik Mujib). Sheik Mujib was born on 17/03/1920 in Tungipara, Bangal (British India, now Bangladesh). In 1971, following the end of the civil war with (West) Pakistan, he became the President/Prime Minister of the newly formed nation, Bangladesh. On 15/08/1975, he and almost his entire family, including his personal staff were brutally assassinated by a group of junior army officers in the presidential residence. The plotters did not even spared Sheik Mujib's youngest son, Sheikh Russel who was only aged 10 at the time of his murder. Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad was allegedly named as the ring leader for the coup. The group comprises of at least 13 plotters/officers who took part in the assassination. Two of Sheik Mujib, daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana escaped the assassination as they were both overseas at that time visiting Europe (West Germany and Belgium respectively). Sheikh Hasina became the Prime Minister of Bangladesh between 1996 to 2001 and also since 2009.

These two notes were reportedly issued on 17/03/2020, which is also the 100th birthday of Sheik Mujib. On the front of the notes both printed with the text - 'Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Centenary 1920-2020' in Bengali and in English on the back. On the back of the 100 taka note, it is also printed with the two words - Commemorative Note. These two words are excluded from the 200 taka note but instead it has the words 'Birth Centenary' printed. Both notes are also printed with the year date of 2020.

Watermark: Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman

Governor - Fazle Kabir (appointed 15/03/2016)
Dimensions

100 Taka - 139mm x 62mm
200 Taka - 141mm x 63mm

100 Taka
Front - Image of Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman
Back - river boat, a roaming Royal Bengal tiger in the jungle, sandarbans

200 Taka
Front -  Image of Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman
Back - Image of smiling Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman, river boats

Imprinter - The Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd (paper materials supplied by De La Rue)

One Hundred Taka

Dated 2020

Reverse

Two Hundred Taka

Dated 2020

Reverse

Opinion ⇨

I believe this is what happened in the 1970s. Following the coup d'etat in 1975, the alleged ringleader Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad became the President of Bangladesh. However his presidency only lasted for 83 days and was then ousted from office on 06/11/1975 by two military officers Khaled Mosharraf and Shafat Jamil. Whilst he was accused as the ringleader, he was never charged or tried and he died of natural causes in 1996 in Dhaka Bangladesh. 

In 2010, five of the people involved in the assassination were hanged for their crime. Another one died of natural causes in Zimbabwe. 

A former military captain, Abdul Majed who admitted his involvement in the killing, returned to Bangladesh and was arrested on 08/04/2020 by the authorities. He has been hiding in Kolkata (Calcutta) India for the last 23 years. On 12/04/2020, he was hanged for his crime at the central jail at Keraniganj near Dhaka. Following the bloody coup in 1975, Addul Majed was awarded for his effort and was posted as Bangladesh's ambassador to Senegal in 1980 by the then President Ziaur Rahman (not related to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman).

According to the authority in Bangladesh, there are still few of the plotters at large, and it is believed that one is living in Canada and another one is in the United States. After 45 years, this case is still not resolved.

Please feel free to post your comments here if you believe what I have stated above is not correct. I am only interested in what actually happened and not siding on either side of the politic.