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Dhaka, June 03, 2025 : Ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, a severe shortage of new currency notes has gripped the market due to limited printing compared to demand. Banks are unable to provide new notes, forcing customers to purchase them at double the face value in the open market.
On Tuesday (June 3), visits to various areas of the capital revealed an overwhelming demand for new currency notes. Customers were seen flocking to bank branches, including Sonali Bank’s local office, but many returned empty-handed. Anisur Rahman, a customer, shared that he couldn’t get new notes from the bank and had to buy Tk 20 notes for Tk 50 each in the open market. He said, “New notes are not just money; they symbolize Eid greetings, shopping, and affection.”
In the open markets near Bangladesh Bank and Gulistan, Tk 20 notes are being sold for Tk 50, while Tk 50 notes are fetching Tk 100. Although Tk 1000 notes are available, their demand remains low. Sources from Bangladesh Bank revealed that only Tk 200 crore worth of new notes were printed for Eid-ul-Adha, far below the usual demand of Tk 25,000 to 30,000 crore per Eid. No new notes have been printed since August 5, and the supply of older notes has also been halted, leading to a market flooded with torn and worn-out notes.
The central bank stated that limited distribution of Tk 20, Tk 50, and Tk 1000 notes began on Sunday through its Motijheel office and other banks. However, the supply is negligible compared to demand, causing widespread frustration among customers.
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