Eidi or salami are cash gifts seniors give to juniors who pay their respects on the occasion of Eid.
Many traders are utilising this opportunity to make an easy profit.
New banknotes worth several million Taka are being traded daily in the capital’s money markets on footpaths ahead of Eid, though there is no legal provision for it
Sources said that a section of people in the central bank and some other private banks allegedly have a nexus with banknote vendors without facing any trouble in distributing the new banknotes.
During a visit to the money markets on footpaths, the UNB correspondent came to know that people are not fazed by the extra charge for fresh banknotes of the same value.
They said they had no time to stand in a queue for fresh notes in banks. They also said they could not collect as much as they want from the banks.
Notes of smaller denominations – such as Tk 10, Tk 20 and Tk 50 – are sold at higher prices at these ‘illegal’ markets while money vendors charge Tk 150, 200, 250 and 400 for a bundle of new notes of TK 10, Tk 20, Tk 50 and Tk 100 respectively.
UNB correspondent also found sellers are busy to sell the new note to the note seekers, and customers were collecting their new notes from the street vendors paying a charge.
The vendors informed that during the Eid festive season, they charge Tk 150 to Tk 450 per bundle containing 100 new notes, on top of the monetary value of the bundle. So, for example, a bundle of new Tk 10 notes will cost Tk 650 - (500 + 150) for Eid season but normally they sell new notes for a premium of Tk 50 from Tk100 over the bundle.
Some buyers said the vendors are charging higher than the normal time as demand for new notes remains high and little supply.
"We make some extra profit from the sale of note this time. We always wait Eid season. People are buying new notes happily despite some extra charge," he also said.
Alagir said they had to collect the notes in exchange of high rates from the bank during Eid season. So they were charging high rate.
A buyer Shakil bought two bundle of Tk 20 notes for his dearest one. He said, "I buy new notes from every year before the Eid. I buy notes though vendors charge extra money. Kids get excited when I give them new notes."
Kids love to get fresh notes Eid tips (Salami) from their near and dear ones which a long tradition of the Eid in our country.
The notes are being sold in all branches of Bangladesh Bank across the country from May 22 which will continue till May 30
Bangladesh Bank (BB) released new notes of Tk10, Tk20, Tk 50 and Tk100 denominations worth Tk 17,000 crore in the market ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The note distribution from all branches of Bangladesh Bank across the country continued from May 22 to May 30 (except the government holidays), according to a Bangladesh Bank circular.
A special exchange counter was opened at Motijheel office of Bangladesh Bank.
Besides, the notes will also be distributed under special arrangement through different branches of the commercial banks in Dhaka region.
Bangladesh Bank recently released new 1,000 taka note with new security features (Crocodile Pattern Rolling Star Thread) aimed at strengthening the security features of the high value currency.