Imagine you're flipping through a book on Dhaka's history. As you turn the pages, you come across a chapter on the Tara Mosque. Something about it feels familiar. You're right -- you've seen it before.

You reach into your pocket, pull out a Tk 100 note, and there it is, right on the back. Unknowingly, all this time, while searching for Dhaka's history in books, you didn't realise you had been carrying parts of Dhaka with you all along -- right in your very pockets.

 Holding a banknote in your hand makes you think — something that has travelled across places, and quietly carried the story of the capital. You would be even more surprised to learn that it's not just the Tk 100 note and the Tara Mosque -- many other banknotes from Bangladesh depict Dhaka's magnificent mosques and historical landmarks.

For years, our capital has been a favourite theme on Bangladeshi banknotes.

 Syeed Bin Salam, a passionate banknote collector and owner of Salam Stamp Centre, believes banknotes are more than just currency.

"Iconic landmarks of cities, like Egypt's pyramids or Cambodia's temples, are often featured on banknotes, carrying the stories of culture, history, and identity," Salam shares.

 Highlighting Dhaka on banknotes, Salam adds, "We have several banknotes that depict Dhaka, such as the country's only polymer note -- the Tk 10 note -- which portrays the National Parliament Building and Baitul Mukarram Mosque on the back."

Photo: Jawwad Sami Neogi

Salam hopes for more polymer notes in the future, with a greater emphasis on other Dhaka landmarks.

"It would be great to see iconic sites like Hatirjheel, Shapla Chattar, or other archaeological and historical places featured," he shares.

Speaking of Tk 10 note, let's take a journey back to Dhaka of the past. The three-domed Lalbagh Fort Mosque, also known as the Quilla Mosque also made its way onto the Tk 10 note issued in 1997-98. Even before that, the Tk 100 notes from 1977, 1981, and 1983-2000 showcased the ruins of Lalbagh Fort, built during the Mughal era.

Another Mughal-era landmark, the Sat Gambuj Mosque (Seven-Domed Mosque), has also had its time in the spotlight, featured on the Tk 50 note in 1979 and later on the Tk 500 note between 2000 and 2010.

On our list of Dhaka's mosques, last but not least, the national mosque, Baitul Mukarram, has also been featured on different versions of the Tk 10 note since 2000. It's no surprise that Dhaka is known as the "City of Mosques", with stunning mosques around every corner.

Illustration: Ashif Ahmed Rudro; Photo: Jawwad Sami Neogi

 Meanwhile, the High Court Building has also appeared in various designs of Tk 500 notes between 1976 and 2010. And no mention of Dhaka's historic sites would be complete without the iconic Curzon Hall, featured on the very first Tk 1,000 note ever issued in Bangladesh.

On the other hand, some banknotes aren't meant for exchange -- they're commemorative notes, issued to honour significant people, events, or milestones. For example, there's a Tk 100 commemorative note, released to celebrate 100 years of the Bangladesh National Museum, located at Shahbagh.

 Banknotes are like windows into a country's culture and history. Dhaka's rich history, architectural beauty, and culture come to life through these designs, reminding us of the importance of preserving these iconic landmarks for generations to come.