The government of Bangladesh has made a big change to the 20-taka currency note. Instead of showing the face of Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding father, the note now has pictures of important religious places. These include the Kantajew Temple, a Hindu temple from the 18th century, and the Paharpur Buddhist Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This change shows a new direction for the country under the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

New images on the 20-taka note

The new 20-taka note was released on June 1. On the front side, it features the beautiful Kantajew Temple located in Dinajpur. According to the Bangladesh Bank website, the note shows the "picture of the historical architecture of Kantajew temple, Dinajpur, on the side." In the background, there is a light-coloured image of Bangladesh’s national flower, the water lily, with its leaf and bud.

On the back of the note is the Paharpur Buddhist Monastery in Naogaon district, Rajshahi division. This monastery is very famous and important. In 1985, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. It is known as one of the best Buddhist monasteries, not only in Bangladesh but in the whole Indian subcontinent. The monastery was built in the 8th century during the rule of the Pal dynasty. It is famous for its fine terracotta art and architecture, showing the rich cultural history of Bengal.

Besides these two images on the 20-taka note, other new currency notes in Bangladesh feature Islamic places of worship. For example, the Shait-Gumbuz Masjid is on the 100-taka note, Tara Masjid on the 50-taka note, and Baitul Mukarram Mosque on the 10-taka note.

History and controversy around Kantajew temple

The Kantajew Temple, also called Kantaji or Kantanagar Temple, is a famous terracotta temple and one of the most visited Hindu temples in Bangladesh. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna (Kanta) and his queen, Rukmini. It was started by Maharaja Prannath of Dinajpur in 1704 and completed by his son Maharaja Ramnath in 1752. This temple is special because the region was heavily influenced by Vaishnavism, a Hindu tradition focused on Lord Krishna.

Unfortunately, the temple has faced violence in recent years. In 2015, terrorists from a group called New Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (New JMB) attacked the temple by throwing bombs during a religious festival called Rash Mela. The New JMB is linked to the terrorist group ISIS and is banned in several countries. Though some terrorists were arrested after the attack, the group never admitted to it.

More recently, in 2024, there were protests from the Hindu community in Bangladesh because a mosque was being built on the temple’s land. This caused tension and anger among locals. The mosque’s construction was even inaugurated by a Member of Parliament from Dinajpur, Md Zakaria Zaka, during the time of the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina.

The Religious Affairs Advisor in the interim government, AFM Khalid Hossain, commented on this issue, saying, "There is government land next to the mosque; let the mosque expansion take place on that leased land, while the temple property remains with the temple."

Political changes reflected in currency notes

The changes on the 20-taka note show the political shifts in Bangladesh. The 20-taka note used to have the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the “Father of the Nation” and founder of Bangladesh. Mujib is also the father of Sheikh Hasina, who led the country for many years.

Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party came to power in 2009 and stayed in power until she was ousted in a protest movement in July-August 2024. During her rule, any criticism of Mujib was seen as blasphemy. When Hasina was forced to leave, protesters showed their anger by damaging statues of Mujib.

Before Mujib’s portrait appeared on the note in 2012, the currency featured the Choto Sona Mosque, a 15th-16th century mosque located in Nawabganj district. This mosque was shown on both sides of the note issued in 2002, during the government of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.

When the 20-taka note changed in 2012, the Choto Sona Mosque was moved to the back side, replaced on the front by Mujib’s portrait. Now, with the interim government in place, the currency no longer shows Mujib. Instead, it honours the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage by featuring the Kantajew Temple and the Paharpur Buddhist Monastery.

Attacks on religious minorities continue

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, reports of many attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh surfaced. The interim government has been accused of not doing enough to stop these attacks. The tension surrounding the Kantajew Temple and the mosque construction is part of this larger problem.

The inclusion of the Kantajew Temple on the currency note is significant because it is a reminder of the temple’s importance and the struggles faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh.

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