Counterfeiters active ahead of Eid
Around two years ago, Md Joynal Rasel, 27, used to work at an apparel store in port city’s Zahur Hawkers Market.
One day while working, he became suspicious of a customer and eventually caught him red-handed with fake notes.
Instead of handing the customer, Masud, over to police, Joynal became rather intrigued in the trade and let him go. Soon afterwards, Joynal quit his job and joined hands with Masud and became a “partner in his business”.
The duo formed a currency counterfeiting gang comprising of eight persons and started circulating fake notes ahead of festivals when people spend a lot in shopping, and counterfeit currency often change hands undetected.
Within two years, Joynal became owner of a cosmetics shop in his home town in Banshkhali.
But Joynal’s luck eventually ran out. On Friday, he and three of his associates were arrested with 31 fake notes of Tk 1,000 in the city’s Madari area, near Shubhopur Bus Stand.
The other arrestees are Md Sujon, 19; Md Sohel, 22; and a 16-year-old boy.
Joynal’s associate Masud is on the run, said Shah Md Abdur Rauf, additional deputy commissioner (south) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police. “The duo used to run the business together and train others.”
ADC Rauf said around seven to eight currency counterfeiting gangs are becoming active ahead of Eid.
Inspector (Investigation) Ruhul Amin of Sadarghat Police Station said the duo recruited Sujon, one of the arrestees, around two years back.
“During Ramadan, Sujon and other members used to circulate over 15-20 fake notes of Tk 1,000 in markets every day. They used to earn Tk 2,500 as daily salary from Joynal,” he said.
Joynal recruited the 16-year-old boy while circulating fake notes at a religious gathering in city’s Hamzarbag last year. The boy used to circulate fake currencies at religious events, said the police official. “We are interrogating the arrestees to find out about their sources.”
Contacted, Ashikur Rahman, CMP assistant commissioner (Double Mooring zone), told The Daily Star, “We are taking steps in this regard and have asked businesses to install fake note detection devices at their establishments.”
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