Counterfeit currency in Bangladesh

[Maisson]

Fake rupees: Forging in Dhaka, trading in India

Eight suspects were arrested while forging rupees in a flat of a six-storey building

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Branch on Sunday busted a factory of fake Indian currency in Dhaka's Bashabo Kodomtola area.

"Acting on a tip-off, a police team confiscated millions of fake rupees, printing material and copper from the scene. Eight suspected forgers, including the mastermind of the racket were also arrested," said Deputy Commissioner (Detective Branch) Moshiur Rahman, who led the drive.

The suspects were arrested while forging rupees in a flat of a six-storey building. Among the arrestees, there were counterfeiters, distributors and currency dealers. 

During the primary investigation, they confessed that a certain group of Indian citizens had been frequently visiting the fake currency factory to buy the counterfeit rupees. They came to Dhaka through the Chapainawabganj border, said police sources.

The same border was being used to smuggle the counterfeit currency to India. 

Police have arrested the eight suspects in different cases several times before. The culprits learned the process of making and distributing fake Indian currency while serving their prison sentences, said sources concerned. 

Bashirullah, the ringleader of the racket, was imprisoned for a drug-related case a few months ago. Meanwhile, Monir was arrested in a cheque fraud case. 

During interrogation, Monir revealed that a man named Durud Zaman taught them the basics of safely running a currency counterfeiting gang. 

Quoting Monir, police said that after learning from Zaman, Bashirullah convinced him to join the racket by saying that he could earn a lot of money in just a month.

The counterfeiting racket in Dhaka, and the Indian gang that visited Bangladesh to buy fake rupees, both parties were under the police scanner for a long time. 

"We will seek help from the Indian Law Enforcement agencies regarding their citizens' involvement in the rupee counterfeiting gang," said Deputy Commissioner Moshiur Rahman.