DHAKA: Bashundhara Cement, a concern of one of country’s leading business conglomerate Bashundhara Group, organized a three-day “Bashundhara Cement Coin Show 2015” with the view to introduce people with the cultures and civilizations of past.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the numismatic exhibition at General Post Office (GPO) auditorium in the capital Saturday.

Specie and bullions of various countries from the past 2,500 years were collected from the local collectors to organize the show.

Asaduzzaman Noor said currency holds socio-political history, tradition and culture of any specific area. Those, who collect ancient currency, possess higher level of cognition.

State minister for women and children affairs Meher Afroz Chumki, as a special guest, said sometimes vested quarter tries to distort history but currency provides almost insurmountable hindrances for them.

Deputy managing director of Bashundhara Group (Cement Sector) Engineer AKM Mahbub-Uz-Zaman said currency brings the history forth. Many of us might not know that every state of British India had different currencies.

“These currencies are the evidences of lost cultures of those states,” he added.

Additional Director General of Bangladesh Postal Service Prabash Chandra Saha, BNCS general secretary MA Qashem and archaeologists M Hossain Chowdhury and Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, among others, also addressed the program, chaired by Bangladesh Numismatic Collectors Society (BNCS) president Amalendra Saha.

Amalendra Saha told banglanews that they have organized the show for the third time presenting over 2,000 specie and bullions, collecting from 26 persons.

Specie and bullions from Mughal period, British Indian states, India, Pakistan, ancient China and several European countries are on display this year.

Besides, ancient Chinese coins made from 400BC to 225BC, gold coins of Emperor Shashanka from 641AD to 694AD, Bull & Horseman (type) coins of Iltutmish and coins made during Muslim ruler Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan from 646AD to 705AD also are being showcased.

Currencies from various periods of Bengal are also on display.

One of the collectors told banglanews that before using metallic coins and paper made currency notes, people used cowries, shark teeth, stones as medium of transaction.

The exhibition will remain open to all from 10:00am to 5:00pm till April 6.

BDST: 1845 HRS, APR 04, 2015