Published: 12:00 AM, 25 October 2016
Currency museum extension hits snag
Central bank's negligence to blame
An enlarged specimen of a currency note put on display on a wall of the currency museum in Mirpur. -AA
The expansion work of the country's lone currency museum popularly known as 'Taka Jadughar' remains halted for over seven months due to administrative complexity and negligence by the Bangladesh Bank authorities. With the view to displaying collected coins and paper notes from different countries, the BB launched the museum on the first floor of the Bangladesh Bank Training Academy at Mirpur on October 4, 2013, after completion of the work of first phase.
About a year ago during the tenure of Dr Atiur Rahman as the governor of the central bank, BB authorities took initiatives to expand the museum and the third floor of the building was selected for the project for displaying the historical portraits of renowned artists of the country. All the preparations for starting the project were done, and the notice of work order was only needed to start the expansion work. However, after the resignation of Dr Atiur Rahman as the BB governor in March, the project activities have been halted and the officers who opposed the project by the former governor are blamed for the development.
Eminent artist Hashem Khan, Chairman of the Taka Jadhughar Bastabayon Committee, expressed his dismay over the stagnation of the project work. Talking to The Asian Age, he said, "I don't know that the work of the expansion project of currency museum will be done or not, as the BB authorities did not contact with me for many days." "It is a project of the Bangladesh Bank. I have taken it just as a charity work," Hashem Khan said adding; "The completion of the project is very much needed for the people to learn about the history of the country."
The artist, however, expressed his hope that the BB authorities will start the project soon. Contacted, Subhankar Saha, Executive Director (ED) of the Bangladesh Bank, also a member of the Taka Jadhughar Bastabayon Committee, told The Asian Age that the project has not been stopped and the process to start the work is under way. "We have decided to start the work in a board meeting with our Governor Fazle Kabir in the chair one month ago and in the meeting a decision was taken to start the expansion work.
The work will start very soon," added Subhankar. Taka Jadughar: At a Glance Anwar Hossain, Curator of Taka Jadughar said, "2500 years of history is represented through coinage and currency in the museum and all decorated in a chronological order. Some of the earliest coins are sourced from Narsingdi and Bogra and the common symbols used in these coins are animal and folk or religious symbols."Coins form the Gupta, Pala, Sena and Sultani periods are on display here. Punch marked coins are showcased in the museum and so are Harikela coins which represent the return of silver coinage in Bangladesh after the later Gupta period. Coins in both silver and cast copper are on display," said the Curator.
The money museum is an opportunity for people to learn about the coinage and history of the country in perspective of money. The evolution of currency is a fascinating phenomenon, where once it was possible to trade two goats for a cow has now evolved into a sophisticated method of transaction," added Anwar Hossain. While talking about the museum, Dr Atiur Rahman said, "The main motivation was to create a museum which will tell the evolution of currency from barter to present digital form. Along with this the political and cultural transformation has also been depicted on coins and notes."
"Coins and notes of other countries have been collected at the museum. Together they depict a world view. This then inspire our youths and kids to learn about the past. They get motivated to become open minded citizens of the nation and the world," added Dr Atiur.Bangladesh Bank sources said the viewing hours for the museum starts at 11:00am and ends at 5:00pm from Saturday through Wednesday and on Friday the museum viewing hours start at 4:00pm ending at 7:00pm with Thursdays marking the weekly holiday.
Entrance of the museum is free. Location: Bangladesh Bank Training Academy, 1st floor, Mirpur-2, Dhaka. "The main motivation was to create a museum which will tell the evolution of currency from barter to present digital form. Along with this the political and cultural transformation has also been depicted on coins and notes."
Dr Atiur Rahman
About a year ago during the tenure of Dr Atiur Rahman as the governor of the central bank, BB authorities took initiatives to expand the museum and the third floor of the building was selected for the project for displaying the historical portraits of renowned artists of the country. All the preparations for starting the project were done, and the notice of work order was only needed to start the expansion work. However, after the resignation of Dr Atiur Rahman as the BB governor in March, the project activities have been halted and the officers who opposed the project by the former governor are blamed for the development.
Eminent artist Hashem Khan, Chairman of the Taka Jadhughar Bastabayon Committee, expressed his dismay over the stagnation of the project work. Talking to The Asian Age, he said, "I don't know that the work of the expansion project of currency museum will be done or not, as the BB authorities did not contact with me for many days." "It is a project of the Bangladesh Bank. I have taken it just as a charity work," Hashem Khan said adding; "The completion of the project is very much needed for the people to learn about the history of the country."
The artist, however, expressed his hope that the BB authorities will start the project soon. Contacted, Subhankar Saha, Executive Director (ED) of the Bangladesh Bank, also a member of the Taka Jadhughar Bastabayon Committee, told The Asian Age that the project has not been stopped and the process to start the work is under way. "We have decided to start the work in a board meeting with our Governor Fazle Kabir in the chair one month ago and in the meeting a decision was taken to start the expansion work.
The work will start very soon," added Subhankar. Taka Jadughar: At a Glance Anwar Hossain, Curator of Taka Jadughar said, "2500 years of history is represented through coinage and currency in the museum and all decorated in a chronological order. Some of the earliest coins are sourced from Narsingdi and Bogra and the common symbols used in these coins are animal and folk or religious symbols."Coins form the Gupta, Pala, Sena and Sultani periods are on display here. Punch marked coins are showcased in the museum and so are Harikela coins which represent the return of silver coinage in Bangladesh after the later Gupta period. Coins in both silver and cast copper are on display," said the Curator.
The money museum is an opportunity for people to learn about the coinage and history of the country in perspective of money. The evolution of currency is a fascinating phenomenon, where once it was possible to trade two goats for a cow has now evolved into a sophisticated method of transaction," added Anwar Hossain. While talking about the museum, Dr Atiur Rahman said, "The main motivation was to create a museum which will tell the evolution of currency from barter to present digital form. Along with this the political and cultural transformation has also been depicted on coins and notes."
"Coins and notes of other countries have been collected at the museum. Together they depict a world view. This then inspire our youths and kids to learn about the past. They get motivated to become open minded citizens of the nation and the world," added Dr Atiur.Bangladesh Bank sources said the viewing hours for the museum starts at 11:00am and ends at 5:00pm from Saturday through Wednesday and on Friday the museum viewing hours start at 4:00pm ending at 7:00pm with Thursdays marking the weekly holiday.
Entrance of the museum is free. Location: Bangladesh Bank Training Academy, 1st floor, Mirpur-2, Dhaka. "The main motivation was to create a museum which will tell the evolution of currency from barter to present digital form. Along with this the political and cultural transformation has also been depicted on coins and notes."
Dr Atiur Rahman
