Intelligence vigilance has been strengthened across the country aimed at stopping circulation of fake notes ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr, reports BSS.

Besides, Bangladesh Bank issued a circular on Wednesday, asking 56 commercial banks to be cautious against any attempt to circulate fake notes during the month of Ramadan.

All the commercial banks have been instructed to take necessary measures, including screening videos prepared on security features of bank notes in all divisional cities for at least one hour after evening to make people aware to prevent spread of fake notes during the month of Ramadan.

Talking to BSS on Thursday, Additional Inspector General (admin) of Police Md. Mukhlesur Rahman said, “We have instructed all concerned to intensify intelligence vigilance at three tiers to stop production, circulation and use of fake notes ahead of the Eid.”

“Law enforcers have been asked to conduct special drives after identifying the places where the counterfeit bank notes are being produced and used,” he said, adding that they are now taking more measures to stop the use of fake notes.

Intelligence watch has been intensified at different places, particularly at the shopping malls and bank areas as the currency forgers usually increase production of counterfeit notes targeting the Eid.

In addition to the shopping malls and bank areas, places around different slums are also under watch because the currency forgers prefer illiterate slum dwellers for circulating the fake notes.

Over 30 crime syndicates have been involved in producing fake notes of different currencies, especially US dollars, Euro, Pound, Saudi Riyal and Taka, a police official said.

“Criminals usually choose the low grade areas like slums located at different parts of Dhaka, Narayanganj, Savar, Tongi, Gazipur, Munsiganj and Keraniganj for running the illegal business,” he said.

“The criminals spend around Taka 150 for producing a note of Taka 500 as a real note of Taka 100 and chemicals of Taka 50 are needed to convert it into a Taka 500 note,” he said, quoting some of the criminals earlier arrested and interrogated by law enforcers. 

“The fake note traders first sell a fake note of Taka 500 at Taka 250 to the whole sellers who sell it to the third party at Taka 350 who later sell it to the fourth party at Taka 400,” he said. 

“Though we have lodged scores of cases against the arrested people with different police stations, they usually get bail from the court after a period as the sections of law under which the cases were lodged are bailable and later they get involved again in the same business,” he added.