Police in the capital have arrested three individuals and recovered counterfeit currency notes worth approximately 34 lakh Bangladeshi Taka, in a coordinated series of raids conducted in Uttara and Gazipur. Authorities suspect the group was preparing to circulate the forged banknotes ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, targeting livestock markets and busy commercial hubs.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Md. Mojibur Rahman (38), Md. Dulal Mridha (40), and Md. Mamun (25). According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the suspects are believed to be active members of an inter-district counterfeit currency syndicate operating across several parts of the country, including Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur.
The arrests were formally disclosed at a press briefing held on Thursday at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road, Dhaka. Speaking at the briefing, Shafiqul Islam stated that the operation was launched following confidential intelligence regarding the distribution of fake currency ahead of the upcoming Eid season.
Acting on the information, detectives arrested Mojibur Rahman at around 12:30 pm on Wednesday from in front of the Cooperative Market (BDR Market) in the Uttara East Police Station area of Uttara. Officers recovered counterfeit notes amounting to Tk 4 lakh from his possession, along with Tk 40,000 in cash, believed to be proceeds from illegal sales.
Subsequently, based on information extracted from Mojibur, a second operation was conducted at around 2:00 pm in the Basan Police Station area of Gazipur. During this raid, detectives arrested Dulal Mridha and Mamun, recovering a further Tk 30 lakh in counterfeit currency.
Investigators also seized equipment allegedly used in the production of forged banknotes, indicating a semi-industrial level of counterfeiting activity.
Seized items and recovery summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total counterfeit currency recovered | Tk 34 lakh |
| Cash recovered (suspected proceeds) | Tk 40,000 |
| Arrested suspects | 3 individuals |
| Printing equipment | Laptop, 3 colour printers |
| Materials | Gold-coloured foil roll, 200 security tags, watermark-enabled paper |
According to the DMP, the suspects confessed during preliminary interrogation that they had been engaged in producing counterfeit currency for an extended period. The network allegedly distributed fake notes through associates across multiple districts, particularly targeting busy marketplaces.
Authorities further revealed that the group had planned to circulate the forged notes in cattle markets and shopping centres during the Eid-ul-Azha season, when cash transactions typically surge, making detection more difficult.
Police have confirmed that multiple cases are already pending against the arrested individuals in different parts of the country. A new case has been filed against them under the Special Powers Act at Uttara East Police Station, and further investigations are underway to identify other members of the syndicate.