..Bangladesh - 50 Taka x 2 Golden Jubilee Of Independence 1971-2021

 গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ
(Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh)

বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক

(Bangladesh Bank)

Currency : Taka (BDT)

 

Here are the two commemorative banknotes of 50 taka both released on 26.03.2021, celebrating the country's 50 years of independence (Golden Jubilee) from Pakistan. Bangladesh was once part of Pakistan and was also sometime referred to as 'East Pakistan' until it successfully obtained independence from Pakistan after a bitter civil war (Bangladesh Liberation War), which started on 25.03.1971. The war went on until the army of Pakistan surrendered on 16.12.1971.

 

Pakistan was granted independent by the British on 14.08.1947. Prior to this, Pakistan was part of India and was then divided into India and Pakistan before gaining independence. India achieved its independent on 15.08.1947. The existence of Pakistan came as a result of the Pakistan Movement where the minority Indian Muslims wanted an independent Muslim state and as such India was partitioned into two separate states by the British, with one part of Pakistan situated next to West Bengal on the eastern side of India, sharing a common border with India and Myanmar, and the other part situated on the western part of India, with Iran and Afghanistan as their neighbours on the left.

 

Despite gaining independence since 1947, Pakistan held its first general election on 07.12.1970 with mainly two main contesting parties, the Awami League based in East Pakistan and led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) based in West Pakistan and led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The Awami League won 160 seats out of a total of 300 seats, thus giving them a majority in federal parliament. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's party won only 81 seats. All the seats won by the Awami League were all in East Pakistan. Since 1958, Pakistan was under martial law and headed by a military junta with General Yahya Khan as President. Following the 1970 election, General Yahya Khan refused to appoint Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the new Prime Minister as both Yahya Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto do not want a political party from East Pakistan to run the country. This led to civil disobedience erupted across East Pakistan. On 25.03.1971, the Pakistani military junta sent in the army to suppress the civil disobedience and later arrested, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was then taken to West Pakistan as a prisoner. However, prior to his arrest, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared the independence of Bangladesh at midnight on 26.03.1971.

 

Since the starting of the civil war, India under the Government of the late Indira Gandhi supported the separation movement and began assisting the East Pakistani in achieving their goal. Obviously, the government in West Pakistan was aware of this and public opinion grew calling for Pakistan to 'crush India'. On 03.12.1971, the Pakistani Air Force launched a surprise attack on India, code name 'Operation Chengiz Khan'. India responded with air strikes which let to the start of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The war only lasted for 13 days and ended on 16.12.1971 when the Pakistani forces surrendered following the fall of Dacca (Dhaka) to the Indian army.

Following the end of the war, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not immediately released until 08.01.1972. By August 1972, more than 86 countries around the world accepted Bangladesh as an independent nation and Pakistan did not recognise Bangladesh as an independent nation until 1974 after pressure from most of the Muslim countries.

 

As for President Yahya Khan, he stepped and handed the control of the country (West Pakistan) to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and he also resigned from the command of the military on 20.12.1971. In Pakistan, Yahya Khan is considered the person who caused the break up of Pakistan unity. He died in 1980, aged 63.

For this special occasion, the central bank released two 50 taka banknotes, with one in a folder.

 

Individual Note -

The front on both notes depicts the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He is also known as the Father of the Nation in Bangladesh. Both notes on the front are also printed with the commemorative logo and the National Martyrs' Memorial in the center. The National Martyrs' Memorial is a monument built in 1982, in memory of those who died in the civil war of 1971. Construction for the monument was started in 1978.

On the back of the first note, the design is the same at the current 50 taka note first issued in 2011. The design is showing two men ploughing the field with two buffaloes. This came from a painting by a famous Bengali artist called Zainul Abedin (b.1914-1976). I believe the title for this painting is 'Life in Pakistan' and was painted in the 1950s.

For the second note, the design on the back is completely new. The design feaaturing eight young men (freedom fighters) advancing through the field with rifles in their hands during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. For this note it is also printed with the following text - 'Golden Jubilee Independence 1971-2021' on top, and also the words 'Commemorative Note' on the right.

I have been told the issue price for the folder note was 100 taka each. However, I do not have the folder issue myself.

Both notes are dated 2021.

Signature\Governor - Fazle Kabir

Dimensions - 130mm x 60mm (for both notes)

Watermark - Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (b.1920-1975)

 

Fifty Taka

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (b.1920-1975), 50th Independence commemorative logo

Painting work by famous Bengali artist Zainul Abedin (b.1914-1976) - 1950s Life in Pakistan [Two men ploughing the field with two buffaloes]

Fifty Taka

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (b.1920-1975), 50th Independence commemorative logo

Eight young men (freedom fighters) advancing through the field with rifles in their hands

Footnote

Like any wars happened in the past, there are no winners but only losers. During the Bangladesh War of Independence, the Pakistani military and other pro government groups committed horrendous crimes against the people of Bangladesh. Up to 3 millions people were killed and another 10 millions people fled to neighbouring India. Many crimes were also committed against women and children, the Hindus and other races too. The genocide against the people started immediately when the Pakistani military junta sent in the army to suppress the civil disobedience. Until today, I am not sure if anyone has been put trail for their crimes committed.