Fresh notes, a hot Eid commodity

Every year before Eid, fresh currency notes become a hot commodity. Though the sale of currency notes is illegal, buyers and sellers have been busy bargaining over fresh notes in New Market and Kotwali areas of the port city.

During a recent visit, people were seen queued up to buy the notes, while 15 to 20 people were found displaying notes of different denominations.

A bundle containing 100 notes of Tk 10 was being sold for Tk 1,100; a bundle of Tk 20 for 2,150; bundle of Tk 50 for Tk 5,250 and bundle of Tk 100 for Tk 10,400. "There are huge demands for Tk 2 and  5 notes. However, Bangladesh Bank has not circulated those this year," said a seller, adding that it had been hampering their business a bit.

Shafiul Islam, who came to buy fresh notes in New Market area, said children become excited if they receive fresh notes as Eid salami.

Mizanur Rahman, who has been selling currency notes in the area for 22 years, said those who could not get fresh notes from banks come here to collect them after paying some extra money.

"Sometimes, we have to collect fresh notes from other districts like Bogura, Dinajpur and Rajshahi. We have to pay extra Tk 5,500-6,500 for each lakh," he said.

Contacted, an official of Bangladesh Bank, Chattogram office, said, "After receiving fingerprints, we provide fresh notes of a maximum of Tk 18,000 --  a bundle of 10, 20, 50 and 100 each -- to one person from 10:00am to 2:30pm every working day."

There are also six private bank branches designated for the exchange of new notes, he added.

According to  sources at Bangladesh Bank's Chattogram office, this year the central bank has released fresh notes worth Tk 1,804 crore for its Chattogram office.