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The 'taka' is the official currency of Bangladesh. Also, in neighboring India, speakers of Bengali and Assamese use the term ''taka'' to refer to the Indian rupee. In Bangladesh, the symbol , or ৲ (and Tk, in English) is used to represent taka; for example, , 50 or Tk 50 would represent 50 taka. It is subdivided into 100 poisha.

Contents

History

Coins

Paper money

Treasury notes

Banknotes

See also

External links

History

The word is derived from the Sanskrit ''tanka'' which was an ancient, even in medieval times, denomination of silver coin. The term taka was widely used in different parts of India but with varying meanings. In north India, taka was a copper coin equal to two paise and in the south, it was equal to four paisa or one anna. It was only in Bengal and orissa where taka was equal to the rupee. In all areas of India, taka was used informally for money in general. But Bengal was the stronghold of taka.
Rupee was introduced by the Turko-Afghan rulers and was strongly upheld by the Mughals and the British rulers. The Bengali people always used the word taka for the rupee, whether silver or gold. Ibn Batuta noticed that, in Bengal, people described gold coins (Dinar) as gold ''tanka'' and silver coin as silver ''tanka''. In other words, whatever might be the metallic content of the coin, the people called it taka. This tradition has been followed to this day in Assamese, Oriya and Bengali speaking regions like Bangladesh, West Bengal, Orissa and Assam.
The taka became Bangladesh's currency in 1972, replacing the Pakistani rupee at par.

Coins

There are eight denominations in coins for general circulation. 1 and 5 poisha coins are rarely circulated. 10, 25, and 50 poisha coins are not widely circulated. 1, 2, and 5 taka circulated regularly.

1973 Series
Image		Value	Composition	Description		Date of first minting
Reverse	Obverse			Obverse	Reverse
5 poisha		5 poisha	Aluminium	National emblem		1973
10 poisha		10 poisha
		25 poisha	Steel		Rohu
		50 poisha
1974 Series (FAO)
		1 poisha	Aluminium	National emblem	Ornamental design, floral patterns	1974
		5 poisha
10 poisha		10 poisha
25 poisha		25 poisha	Steel
1 taka		1 taka	Various		Four human figures, slogan "Planned family - Food for All"	1975
1977 Series (FAO)
5 poisha		5 poisha	Aluminium	National emblem	Plough, Industrial wheel	1977
10 poisha		10 poisha			A man and a woman seated on 2 back steads facing each other
25 poisha		25 poisha	Steel		Royal Bengal Tiger
50 poisha		50 poisha			Hilsha fish, Chicken, Pineapple, Banana
Newer Issues
		2 taka	Steel	National emblem	Education	2004
5 taka		5 taka			Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge	1994

Paper money

Treasury notes

★ 1 taka

★ 2 taka
The 1 and 2 taka notes are issued by the Government of Bangladesh. The rest of the notes are issued by Bangladesh's central bank, the Bangladesh Bank.

Banknotes

★ 5 taka

★ 10 taka

★ 20 taka

★ 50 taka

★ 100 taka

★ 500 taka
In the year 2000, the government issued polymer 10-taka notes as an experiment (similar to the Australian dollar). They proved unpopular, however, and were withdrawn later. At present, the 1-taka and 5-taka notes are gradually being replaced with coins.

See also

★ Economy of Bangladesh

External links

★ Bangladesh Bank's page on currencies in circulation