The law enforcement authorities in Feni’s Fulgazi Upazila have successfully apprehended a 34-year-old male on charges of attempting to circulate counterfeit currency within a local marketplace. The suspect, identified as Mehedi Hasan, was detained on Monday evening, 11 May 2026, in the Andadhar Bazar area. Upon his arrest, officers recovered two counterfeit banknotes, each possessing a face value of 1,000 Bangladeshi Taka.
Mehedi Hasan is the son of Abdur Rahman, a resident of the Banshbunia locality under the Kathalia Police Station in Jhalakathi district. According to official reports, the suspect had been observed in the Amjadhat area since Monday afternoon, accompanied by an associate identified as Roni. The arrest followed a specific incident at a retail establishment located on the Amjadhat Kancha Bazar Road.
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Details Of The Counterfeit Transaction
The intervention was initiated when Mehedi Hasan visited a shop named ‘Mazarul Ullah Electric and Hardware’ to purchase a small handheld torchlight. To settle the transaction, he presented a 1,000 Taka banknote to the shopkeeper. The proprietor, becoming suspicious of the note’s authenticity, promptly alerted the local police.
Responding to the notification, a team from the Fulgazi Police Station arrived at the scene and secured the suspect. Following a search conducted in the presence of local witnesses, a second 1,000 Taka counterfeit note was discovered in his possession. Local observers noted that the suspect had presented two distinct types of fraudulent notes: one designed as the older version featuring the portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and another mimicking the more recently printed 1,000 Taka denomination. Both were subsequently verified as forgeries.
Suspect Profile And Prior Criminal Record
During the preliminary interrogation conducted by the authorities, Mehedi Hasan reportedly confessed to being a professional operative within a counterfeit currency syndicate. Criminal record checks revealed that the suspect is a habitual offender with several pending cases against him in the capital.
Police records indicate that there are currently three active cases relating to the possession and distribution of counterfeit currency filed against Mehedi Hasan in various police stations across Dhaka. Additionally, he faces charges under the Narcotics Control Act in a separate case. The suspect’s presence in Feni is believed to be part of an organised attempt to infiltrate rural markets with fraudulent tender.
Warning Regarding Pre-Festival Counterfeit Activities
Law enforcement agencies have observed a seasonal surge in counterfeit currency operations, coinciding with the approaching Eid-ul-Adha festival. This period typically sees a high volume of cash transactions in cattle markets and retail hubs, providing an opportunity for criminal syndicates to introduce forged notes into the financial system.
Police officials stated that members of these gangs have become increasingly active across different sectors of Feni, attempting to purchase goods in local markets using counterfeit high-value denominations. The authorities have issued a formal advisory to the business community and the general public to remain vigilant. Traders have been urged to inspect high-value notes thoroughly and to immediately inform the nearest law enforcement agency of any suspicious individuals or transactions.
Legal Proceedings And Administrative Action
The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Fulgazi Police Station, S.M. Mizanur Rahman, confirmed the arrest and stated that the police are conducting a thorough investigation to identify other members of the network. He further noted that the process of filing a formal case against the detainee is currently underway.
The suspect remains in custody as the authorities prepare to present him before the court. The police are also attempting to track the whereabouts of his associate, Roni, who remains at large. This incident serves as a reminder of the persistent threat posed by counterfeiters to the economic stability of local markets during major national festivals.