Several counterfeit note syndicates have become active in the capital ahead of Eid-ul-Azha when a lot of cash changes hands.

One of the main targets of the syndicates is the cattle markets. Urey are also on the prowl at other large gatherings, like shopping malls, to circulate fake notes.

They work at multiple layers, from supply of equipment for printing the notes to distribution of fake notes, law enforcers said.

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"We have come to know about over 15 large counterfeit note gangs in the capital," said Lt Col Tuhin Mohammad Masud, commanding officer of Rab-1.

If caught by law enforcers, the gang members manage to get out of jails and resumetheircriminal activities, hesaid.

The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Wednesday night busted a gang of five people, including two women, who Rab claimed had been involved in producing and distributing fake notes for several years.

They are Fatema Begum, 25, Rubina Begum, 24, Abdur Rashid, 56, Md Dulal, 30, and Sarwar Hossain, 23, said Rab

officials.

"The gang circulated aboutTk 1 crore in fake notes and also had plans to distribute Tk 2 crore more ahead of Eid-ul-Azha," Masud told a press briefing at Rab-1 headquarters yesterday.

Acting on a tip-off, a Rab-1 team raided a house at Dakkhin Banasree in the city and detained Fatema and Rubina, said the Rab official.

Searching a room, they found fake notes oflk 1,000 andTk500 worth Tk 78 lakh.

The Rab men also seized fake notemaking equipment, including fibres, tracing papers, printing plates, laminating machines, printers and car-

tridges from the house.

After gleaning information from them, Rab detained Rashid, Dulal and Sarwar from Jurain area the same night, CO Masud said, adding that they also seized over Tk 23 lakh and printing plates and mobile phones from the trio.

According to Rab sources, Sarwar is a distributor who was caught with fake notes worth Tk 2 lakh.

During primary interrogation, Rashid admitted that he had been involved in fake note-making for over a decade.

He was a government bank official but was fired in 1997 and later spent two years in jail, said Rab official Masud.

After getting released from jail, he started a printing press in the capital's Katabon area.

In jail, he met one Nuruzzaman alias Guruzzaman, who is an expert in producing fake Indian currency. While running the printing press, he met Nuruzzaman again and the duo started making fake notes.

Initially, they produced fake Indian notes but gradually changed their business and started producing fake Bangladeshi notes.

Rubina and Fatema, both of whom are the wives of one Abdur Rahim, were detained by Rab earlier. Rahim is also involved in the illegal trade, said CO

Masud.

The women have been involved in producing fake notes, as it is comparatively less risky for them, he said.

The Rab official added that fake notes-making gangs usually maintain multiple layers to continue their illegal trade in the market Some get involved in producing while the others have the responsibility of distributing those in the market.

According to law enforcers, people belonging to lower income group are the main target of the fake note gangs.

During primary interrogation, the gang members admitted that they do this throughout the year but become more active during Eids, he said.PHOTOS ON PAGE 2