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They used to steal
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They would also activate MSF services on the newly activated SIMs and sell those to people, who would use those for illegal transactions.
“The racket was activating at least 100 SIM cards daily using preserved fingerprints, which were then sold to criminal gangs,” said ADC Junaed.
On Monday, during a targeted operation, detectives successfully apprehended eight individuals from Dhaka, Rangpur, and Kurigram, he said.
The arrestees are Md Masud, 22, the ringleader and SR of a mobile operator, and his associates Imon Hossain, 25, Sohel Rana, 36, Md Shakil, 25. They all worked as assistant SRs of the operator.
The other arrestees are Al Amin Mia, 26, and his brother Arafat Rahman, 23, both of whom worked in a customer care centre of a mobile operator, and their associates Mehedi Hasan (24) and Nure Alam (24).
Detectives recovered 800 individuals’ fingerprint details, 110 activated SIM cards, a glue gun, two computers, three finger scanners, and an app used for collecting personal details.
Interestingly, none of the arrested individuals possessed expertise in online technology.
The mastermind, Masud, discontinued his studies after completing HSC, while his associate, Mehedi, did the same after SSC.
ADC Junaed said that the racket had been active for the past year, and sold out thousands of SIM cards.
“Primary evidence suggests that the racket had established a robust network across the country,” he said.
He said that so far lower-tier officials of the SIM operators were found in the sale of individuals’ personal information, but they would also investigate involvement at higher levels.
He said letters would be sent to the SIM operators and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission regarding this criminal activity.
The SIM operators should enhance security measures to prevent such unauthorised access to individuals’ full NID details and increase vigilance at customer care and sales points, he added.
“Our drive is underway to arrest more members of the racket,” he said.

50 years
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while being taken to hospital due to delay in crossing the river, he said.
Ratan Haldar, a trader, said they have to pay Tk 1,000-1,500 more per truck to bring goods, due to the absence of a concrete bridge.
Rabindranath Roy, chairman of Mulia Union, said some 8,000-10,000 people cross the river every day and 60,000 people in 15-20 villages around the river are deprived of a concrete bridge over the Kajla river.
Biswajit Kumar Kundu, executive engineer of Narail Local Government and Rural Development (LGED), said there is a plan to build a 400-metre long bridge over the river and the construction work of the bridge will begin soon after getting approval.