People seeking fresh notes ahead of Eid
With Eid-ul-Fitr knocking at the door, people of the port city have been demanding for fresh currency to make the occasion more special. Taking the advantage of a reported crisis of fresh notes in the banks, sellers have raised the "price" compared to the previous year.
Although currency trading is illegal, buyers and sellers were found trading notes in New Market, Agrabad, and Court Building areas displaying bundles of fresh notes of different denominations.
During a recent visit to New Market CDA Biponi Bitan area, this correspondent saw people of different professions gathering to trade old notes in exchange for fresh ones, where sellers bargained for extra.
Buyers claimed that when they went to get fresh notes from banks, they were told banks do not have them as many have already collected them beforehand considering Eid. As a result, they could not get their desired notes in the required amount and resorted to these marketplaces to get them.
Sellers said this year, the demand for Tk 2, 5 and 10 notes is higher as the prices of Tk 50 and Tk 100 notes have increased compared to the previous year.
To buy a bundle of Tk 2 and Tk 5 containing 100 notes, a buyer has to pay Tk 220 and 520, respectively, they said. A bundle of Tk 10 containing 100 notes was being sold at Tk 1,100, while a bundle of Tk 20 was being sold at Tk 2,150, a bundle of Tk 50 at Tk 5,250, and a bundle of Tk 100 was being sold at Tk 10,400 to Tk 10,500.
Md Abdul Jalil, a fresh note trader, told The Daily Star, "This year, business is not going well. However, the demand for Tk 2 and Tk 5 notes is high as people are taking them for children's 'salami' on Eid Day."
Wishing anonymity, a Bangladesh Bank official said, "Bangladesh Bank has been providing fresh notes worth a maximum of Tk 18,000 per person, including Tk 10, Tk 20 and Tk 50 notes, after verifying the note seeker's identification and other information during the banking hours."
However, failing to collect fresh notes from banks, Rashedul Parvez, a university official, came to New Market.
"Fresh notes can work as a source of joy during Eid, especially for children. I couldn't collect them from the bank, so I came here to get them," he said.
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