With Eid in the offing, the circulation of counterfeit notes often rises as demand for fresh currency surges, driven by people preparing to buy gifts and give Eid salami to children and loved ones.
As demand for new notes rises during Eid compared with other times of the year, counterfeit notes often enter the market in greater numbers.
In this context, Bangladesh Bank said in a notice on Sunday that new currency notes will not be supplied this year, raising concerns about counterfeit money compared with previous years.
During visits to several areas in the capital, including in front of Bangladesh Bank in Motijheel and parts of Gulistan, temporary roadside stalls selling new and worn notes were still seen operating. Although the amount was small, new notes were still being sold.
Towsif Arefin, whose office is in Motijheel, said he visited a roadside stall during office hours to buy new notes to give Eid salami to children in his family.
“I can still see new notes being sold. I heard Bangladesh Bank has stopped supplying them, but they are still available here, so I am checking carefully before buying,” he said.
Besides, counterfeit notes are circulating not only in open markets but also online, with several Facebook pages running advertisements and offering fake currency through attractive deals.
A Facebook page named “Jal Taka Bikroy” is reportedly offering what it claims are “A-grade” fake notes in denominations of Tk50, Tk100, Tk200, Tk500, and Tk1,000. The sellers even post videos of the production process to convince buyers of the notes’ quality.
These notes are delivered nationwide through home delivery. Buyers are not required to pay in advance; only a delivery charge is collected upfront, while the remaining amount is paid via cash on delivery.
Several other online pages are also involved in selling counterfeit currency nationwide, including “Jal Taka Bikri Kori”, “Jal Takar Dealer”, and “Jal Takar Karbar”.
Meanwhile, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-3) arrested two members of a counterfeit currency gang with fake notes worth about Tk25 lakh during an operation in Sector 5 of Uttara on Thursday night.
RAB-3 Senior Assistant Director Sanad Barua said a raid was conducted at a building in Dollipara Badaldi area under Turag Police Station. Two suspects, Naimul Islam Ishan, 19, and Kefayet Ullah, 19, were arrested with 5,005 counterfeit Tk500 notes worth about Tk25,02,500.
A laptop, two laser printing dies, a printer, and three smartphones used to produce fake notes were also seized.
Later on Sunday night, members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained Hasanuzzaman, 30, with counterfeit notes worth Tk43,000 during an operation in Kayba border area under Sharsha upazila in Jashore. Joint Commissioner (South) of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Nasirul Islam, said the police have made extensive preparations ahead of Eid.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
