Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 4 Num 173 Mon. November 17, 2003  
   
Letters to Editor


Of notes and coins


We may be having too many types in each of the denominations of our currency notes and coins. According to one estimate, we may be having anything between two to five types of notes/coins for any particular denomination! For example, there are at least four types of Tk 500 notes, at least three types of Tk 100 notes, at least four types of Tk 50 notes and so on.

Without going into the blame game and details of how we ended up in a situation like this, perhaps it would suffice to say that it is not at all desirable to have too many types of legal tenders of the same value.

Ideally, there should be only one type of currency note and coin for one type of denomination for a reasonable period of time, if not permanently. Too many types for the same denomination tend to create confusion and are also expensive. May be it also reflects on the respectability of the central Bank.

The bank can take the initiative to make permanent/semi-permanent designs for all our currency notes and coins so that with every change of government, currency notes/coins do not change so easily.