The Rapid Action Battalion arrested four members of a bank note counterfeiting ring that circulated fake notes of Tk two crore in markets in one year.
The ring has been operating their business online and spreading fake notes in Dhaka, Gazipur, Munshiganj, Narayanganj and adjacent districts.
In the raid at Derma, Khilgaon and Sabujbagh areas, RAB arrested four of the ring on Tuesday night, including ringleader Aminul Haque, and seized fake notes of Tk 50 lakh.
The three other arrested are Abdur Razzak Didar, Sujon Ali and Sakibul Islam.
Briefing journalist on Wednesday, RAB media wing director Khandaker Al Moin said that the ring opened Facebook pages and groups for their fake business over a year ago.
RAB officials said that counterfeiting banknotes continues throughout the year, but it increases before different festivals since it is relatively easier to circulate fake notes in markets amid huge transactions.
The illegal business in recent years has moved to the online platform using different Facebook pages, said Moin.
He said that Aminul used to work as designer of a private firm and he learnt note counterfeiting techniques online.
Facebook pages named Jal Taka Bikroy Kori, and Jal Taka Sell have been advertising for selling fake notes. The pages were operated by the ring.
The sellers share photos and videos of fake notes in their posts. They also share screenshots featuring satisfied customers, thanking them for delivering the package without hassle.
Moin said that it costs few thousand taka to manufacture fake notes of Tk 1 lakh, and the rings used to sell fake currency worth Tk 1 lakh at Tk 20,000 to Tk 25,000.
Aminul used to print the notes and others used to help in marketing them.
The delivery schedules for fake notes were fixed through messengers, RAB said.
