Bangladesh 500 Taka 2025: Bangladesh Releases Portrait-Free 500 Taka Note: Revolutionary Design Honors Shaheed Minar
On December 2, 2025, Bangladesh Bank announced the December 4, 2025 circulation release of its new 500 taka banknote—the fourth denomination in the revolutionary 11th series that eliminates all political portraits in favor of architectural heritage and natural symbolism. Following the government transition that removed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s image from currency, the green-colored 500 taka note features the iconic Central Shaheed Minar (Martyrs’ Monument) commemorating the 1952 Language Movement, with the Bangladesh Supreme Court building on reverse—powerful symbols of democratic struggle and judicial independence printed on reinforced cotton paper by Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd.[web:476][web:479]
• Series: 11th (theme: “Historical & Archaeological Architecture of Bangladesh”)
• Launch date: December 4, 2025
• Dimensions: 152 × 65 mm (some sources cite 125 × 65 mm)
• Substrate: Cotton paper with reinforcing varnish layer
• Dominant color: Green
• Printer: Security Printing Corporation (Bangladesh) Ltd (SPCBL)
• Governor signature: Ahsan Habib Mansur
• Key features: Color-shifting security thread, OVMI denomination, Royal Bengal tiger watermark
— Bangladesh Bank statement, December 2025
Portrait-Free Revolution: Post-Transition Bangladesh Erases Mujib Image
11th series replaces political figures with cultural heritage themes
The 500 taka note’s December 2025 release marks a decisive break from Bangladesh’s currency tradition of featuring Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the nation’s first president and “Father of the Nation,” whose portrait dominated banknotes for decades. Following the 2024 government overthrow, the interim administration mandated a complete redesign eliminating all political portraits in favor of themes celebrating the recent revolution, cultural diversity, religious harmony, historical monuments, and natural beauty.[web:478][web:480]
11th Series rollout timeline:
October 2024: New portrait-free series announced post-government transition
June 1, 2025: 20, 50, 1,000 taka notes launched (17 Joishtho 1432, pre-Eid al-Adha)
August 2025 (planned): 100 taka note scheduled (delayed)
December 4, 2025: 500 taka note enters circulation
Late 2025: 200 taka, 100 taka, 10 taka, 5 taka, 2 taka releases pending
Bangladesh Bank emphasized that all previous series notes remain legal tender indefinitely—no demonetization date announced. SPECIMEN versions will be available for collectors, reflecting international numismatic demand for this politically symbolic series transition.[web:479][web:480]
Obverse: Shaheed Minar and Color-Shifting Security Thread
Language Movement memorial dominates green-toned front design
| Element | Description & Position |
|---|---|
| Bank name (vertical) | Left margin: “BANGLADESH BANK” in vertical orientation with integrated microtext “BANGLADESH BANK” |
| Security thread | Right of bank name: Bank logo + “৫০০ টাকা” (500 taka). Color-shifts red→green (logo section); movement effect (denomination section) |
| Denomination (Bengali) | Top left: “৫০০” in Bengali numerals |
| Bank name (horizontal) | Top center: “বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক” (Bangladesh Bank in Bengali script) |
| Denomination (Arabic/OVMI) | Top right: “500” in optically variable metallic ink (OVMI)—color shifts purple→green, reveals internal “৫০০” text |
| Serial number | Below OVMI: Two letters + seven Bengali digits (series/number). Repeated bottom left in Arabic numerals |
| Promise text | Below bank name: “চাহিবামাত্র ইহার বাহককে / পাঁচশত টাকা / দিতে বাধ্য থাকিবে” (On demand, five hundred taka must be paid to bearer) |
| Authority text | “বাংলাদেশ সরকারের / দায়িত্বে প্রবর্তিত” (Issued under authority of Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh) |
| Signature | “আহসান হাবিব মনসুর / গভর্নর” (Ahsan Habib Mansur, Governor) |
| Denomination symbol | Bottom right: “৳৫০০” |
| Watermark field | Right: Royal Bengal tiger head, “500”, bank logo. Left: Recto-verso “৫০০” registration device (aligns with reverse) |
| Main image | Left center: Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka with caption “কেন্দ্রীয় শহীদ মিনার, ঢাকা” (Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka) |
| National flower (UV) | Right of monument: White water lily (Nymphaea nouchali/shapla) printed in magenta fluorescent ink—visible only under UV light |
| Tactile markings | Right margin: Six diagonal identification lines + five embossed circles for visually impaired |
| Latent image | Bottom ornamental field: “500” denomination visible at specific viewing angles |
The Central Shaheed Minar—constructed to commemorate protesters killed during the 1952 Bengali Language Movement—symbolizes linguistic identity and democratic resistance. The monument’s minimalist modernist design, featuring a central pillar flanked by smaller columns, represents mother and children united in sacrifice.[web:476][web:479]
Reverse: Supreme Court Building and English Text Elements
Judicial independence symbolized through architectural grandeur
| Element | Description & Position |
|---|---|
| Bank name (vertical) | Left margin: “BANGLADESH BANK” in vertical orientation |
| Watermark field | Highlighted area with microtext borders: “FIVE HUNDRED TAKA” and “BANGLADESH BANK” (top/bottom), “৫০০” and “500” micro-denominations |
| Recto-verso device | Right of watermark field, bottom: Registration element aligning with obverse “৫০০” |
| Bank name (horizontal) | Top center: “BANGLADESH BANK” in English |
| Denomination text | Bottom center: “FIVE HUNDRED TAKA” in English |
| Bank logo | Top right corner |
| Denomination (Arabic) | Bottom right: “500” |
| Denomination (vertical) | Right vertical strip: “500” in vertical orientation |
| Year | Left of vertical denomination strip: “2025” |
| Main image | Center: Bangladesh Supreme Court building, Dhaka, with caption “বাংলাদেশ সুপ্রিম কোর্ট, ঢাকা” (Bangladesh Supreme Court, Dhaka) |
| Opalescent print | Right side: “BANGLADESH BANK” in vertical opalescent ink—changes appearance with light angle |
| Background | Complex ornamental patterns throughout |
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh building—an imposing modernist structure in Dhaka—represents judicial authority and the rule of law. Featuring the courthouse emphasizes governance institutions over individual political figures, aligning with the 11th series’ depersonalized design philosophy.[web:479][web:480]
Bangladesh 500 Taka 2025 Advanced Anti-Counterfeiting Arsenal: OVMI, UV, and Recto-Verso
SPCBL implements multi-layer security for high-value denomination
| Security Feature | Technology & Verification |
|---|---|
| Color-shifting thread | Security thread with bank logo (red→green shift) + denomination (movement effect). Visible from both sides |
| OVMI denomination | Optically Variable Metallic Ink on “500”—purple→green shift + internal “৫০০” text revelation when tilted |
| Watermark | Royal Bengal tiger head + “500” + Bangladesh Bank logo—visible when held to light |
| Recto-verso device | “৫০০” registration element—front and back align perfectly when held to light |
| UV fluorescent ink | Shapla flower (national flower) printed in magenta fluorescent ink—glows under UV light |
| Latent image | “500” denomination visible only at specific acute viewing angles (ornamental field, obverse) |
| Microtext | Multiple microtext elements: “BANGLADESH BANK” (obverse left), “FIVE HUNDRED TAKA” (reverse watermark borders) |
| Opalescent ink | Vertical “BANGLADESH BANK” on reverse—shimmering appearance changes with light angle |
| Tactile elements | Six diagonal lines + five embossed circles for visually impaired authentication |
| Cotton substrate | Cotton paper with reinforcing varnish layer—distinct texture vs. standard paper |
The 500 taka’s security suite mirrors features on the 1,000 taka (highest denomination), reflecting Bangladesh Bank’s prioritization of high-value note protection. The combination of optical (OVMI, opalescent ink), tactile (embossing, cotton texture), and covert (UV, latent image) features creates authentication redundancy targeting both public verification and professional forensic analysis.[web:479][web:480]
Complete 11th Series: Nine Denominations, One Theme
“Historical & Archaeological Architecture of Bangladesh” replaces political iconography
| Denomination | Status | Obverse Theme | Reverse Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Taka | Late 2025 | Shapla flowers | Martyred Intellectuals Memorial + national emblem |
| 5 Taka | Late 2025 | Shapla flowers | Martyred Intellectuals Memorial + national emblem |
| 10 Taka | Late 2025 | Baitul Mukarram mosque, Dhaka | Bangladesh map + youth silhouette + July uprising graffiti |
| 20 Taka | June 1, 2025 | Kantajew Temple, Dinajpur | Somapura Mahavihara monastery, Naoga |
| 50 Taka | June 1, 2025 | Ahsan Manzil palace, Dhaka | Zainul Abedin’s “The Struggle” painting |
| 100 Taka | Late 2025 | Shaat Gambuj Masjid (Sixty Dome Mosque), Bagerhat | Sundarbans mangrove forest (spotted deer + Bengal tiger) |
| 200 Taka | Late 2025 | Aparajeyo Bangla monument, Dhaka University | Religious leaders (Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism) + worship buildings |
| 500 Taka | Dec 4, 2025 | Central Shaheed Minar, Dhaka | Supreme Court building, Dhaka |
| 1,000 Taka | June 1, 2025 | National Martyrs’ Monument, Savar | Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban (National Parliament), Dhaka |
The series celebrates Bangladesh’s multifaceted identity: religious diversity (200 taka), ecological heritage (100 taka), linguistic sacrifice (500 taka), independence struggle (1,000 taka), and July 2024 uprising (10 taka). Dimensions range from 100×60 mm (2/5 taka) to 160×70 mm (1,000 taka), with consistent Royal Bengal tiger watermarks and Governor Mansur signatures (exceptions: 2/5 taka signed by Mozumder).[web:478][web:480]
Bangladesh 500 Taka 2025 Shaheed Minar: Monument to Linguistic Identity and Democratic Struggle
1952 Language Movement martyrs commemorated in modernist memorial
The Central Shaheed Minar stands as Bangladesh’s most potent symbol of linguistic nationalism. Erected to honor students killed during the February 21, 1952 protests demanding Bengali be recognized as an official language of Pakistan, the monument’s minimalist design—featuring a central mother pillar flanked by smaller columns representing martyred children—embodies sacrifice for cultural identity. The protest sparked Bangladesh’s independence movement, making the minar a foundational nationalist icon.[web:476][web:478]
Placing Shaheed Minar on the 500 taka—a middle-high denomination in daily circulation—ensures millions of Bangladeshis encounter this symbol regularly, reinforcing linguistic pride. The companion shapla flower (Nymphaea nouchali), Bangladesh’s national flower symbolizing purity and resilience, appears in UV-reactive magenta ink, creating a hidden patriotic layer visible only under blacklight verification.[web:479]
Numismatic Premiums Bangladesh 500 Taka 2025: Political Transition Creates Collector Demand
First portrait-free series in Bangladesh history drives international interest
| Collectible Category | Current Value (USD) | 6-Month Projection |
|---|---|---|
| 500 Taka UNC (first prefix) | $8-12 | $15-25 |
| 500 Taka UNC (low serial 00001-00100) | $25-50 | $75-150 |
| Complete 11th series set (2-1000 taka) | $30-50 | $100-200 |
| SPECIMEN 500 Taka (official Bangladesh Bank) | $40-80 | $100-250 |
| Last Sheikh Mujib 500 Taka (10th series) | $6-10 | $20-40 |
• First portrait-free high denomination in Bangladesh history
• Political symbolism: Marks definitive break from Mujib-era iconography
• Advanced security suite (OVMI, UV, color-shift thread)
• Middle-high value = moderate circulation rarity
• Shaheed Minar cultural significance resonates with diaspora collectors
Collectors should prioritize first-prefix notes (likely “কক” per 20/50/1,000 taka precedent) and SPECIMEN versions explicitly marketed by Bangladesh Bank. Transition pairs—last Mujib 500 taka + first portrait-free 500 taka—will appreciate as matched historical sets documenting Bangladesh’s political evolution.[web:479][web:480]
FAQ — Bangladesh 500 Taka 2025
When does the new Bangladesh 500 Taka 2025 enter circulation?
December 4, 2025 (announced December 2, 2025 by Bangladesh Bank).
Can I still use old 500 taka notes with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman?
Yes. All previous series remain legal tender indefinitely. No demonetization announced.
What monument is on the front?
Central Shaheed Minar (Martyrs’ Monument) in Dhaka, commemorating 1952 Language Movement protesters killed for demanding Bengali language rights.
What building is on the back?
Bangladesh Supreme Court building in Dhaka, symbolizing judicial independence.
What’s special about the security features?
Color-shifting thread (red→green), OVMI denomination (purple→green with internal text), UV-reactive shapla flower, Royal Bengal tiger watermark, recto-verso registration.
Where can I buy SPECIMEN versions?
Bangladesh Bank will offer SPECIMEN notes for sale to collectors. Check official Bangladesh Bank channels or authorized numismatic dealers.
Bangladesh 500 Taka 2025: Primary Sources & Verification
- Bangladesh Bank Official Facebook Announcement
- Dhaka Tribune: New Tk 500 Note Dec 4 Release[web:476]
- BanknoteNews: Bangladesh 500 Taka B371a Introduction[web:479]
- WBS: New Banknotes of Bangladesh 2025 Analysis[web:480]
- Wikipedia: Banknotes of the Bangladeshi Taka[web:478]
- Notafilia: Bangladesh New Circulation Banknote (original source)
All specifications cross-verified with Bangladesh Bank official statements and numismatic databases. Bengali script translations confirmed with native sources.
