Dhaka, March 9 -- For the second consecutive year, people in Bangladesh will be unable to collect new banknotes before the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

This maintains a shift away from a long-standing festive tradition.

Historically, the Bangladesh Bank's head office provided the public with the opportunity to exchange old currency for new notes specifically for the festival.

In previous years, the central bank would issue a notification detailing which commercial bank branches were authorised to distribute the new notes.

This tradition was first interrupted in 2024.

Upon taking office, former governor Abdur Rouf Talukder abolished the central bank's direct exchange service, restricting distribution solely to commercial banks.

That year, t...