...Bangladesh - 100 Taka 2022 Commemorative Note Opening Ceremony of the Padma Bridge 25.06.2022

 গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশ
(Peoples' Republic of Bangladesh)

বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংক

(Bangladesh Bank)

Currency : Taka (BDT)

 

On 25.06.2022, the Bangladesh Bank released a commemorative banknote of 100 taka to celebrate the opening ceremony of the Padma Bridge. A total of 10 million pieces were issued for this celebration. In addition to the single notes, they are also sold in an envelope for 150 taka per note, and 200 taka sold with a folder in an envelope. I believe there is no difference with those individual notes, and for those come in an envelope or folder.

 

This note was issued to celebrate the pride of the nation for building this Padma Bridge. The bridge is a Truss bridge, and was designed by AECOM, an American engineering firm, and was constructed by China Major Bridge Engineering Co Ltd. Construction for the bridge started on 26.11.2014, and completed on 09.11.2021, at an estimated cost of US$3.6 billion. The bridge is 6,150 meters in length, 18.18 meters wide, 120 meters tall and supported by 41 spans across. With this bridge, it was claimed that it would increase the country's GDP by as much as 1.2% p.a.

Obviously, this bridge is important to the country as it connects the population from one part of the country to another. Prior to the construction of this bridge, crossing the Padma River would have to be done by ferry or Lalon Shah Bridge (road bridge) or the Hardinge Bridge (rail bridge). Bangladesh is basically divided into three main parts by the Padam and Brahmaputra Rivers. These two rivers then joined up and formed the Meghna River that flows into the Bay of Bengal. The locals called this a dream bridge as they can now cross the river in less than 10 minutes compared to ferry crossing that can take a few hours one way, and even longer during monsoon seasons.

As this is a commemorative note, and on the front all text are printed in Bengali, and on the back it printed with the following text in English: -

Padma Bridge - The symbol of national pride

COMMEMORATIVE NOTE

 

One Hundred Taka

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (b.1920-1972), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, Padma Bridge

Front - On the front it features the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (b.1920-1972), who was the first Prime Minister of Bangladesh, and next him is Sheikh Hasina Wazed, who is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She is also the eldest daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The background on the front also features the Padma Bridge, viewed from the river water level.

Signature - Fazie Kabir (tenure 15.03.2016 - 03.07.2022)

Watermark - Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Coat of Arms

Dimensions - 146mm x 63.5mm

Back - Aerial view of the Padma Bridge. This is a multiple-purpose road-rail bridge that runs across the Padma River, where the water flows from the Ganges River from India. The Padma Bridge is only one of the three bridges that are built across the Padma River in Bangladesh. It is also the longest bridge ever built in the country, and is also the longest over the Ganges River in terms of both spanning and the total length. This bridge connects the capital city Dhaka which is located in the northeast part of the country, to the southwest part of Bangladesh. The note is dated 2022 on the back.

Aerial view of the Padma Bridge

Folder Cover front

Folder Cover back