We are concerned over the menace of fake educational certificate business. The organised criminal gangs have been making counterfeit certificates of different subjects and degrees like MBBS, BDS, MPhil, PHD, engineering, and advocateship since long under the very nose of the authorities concerned. This racket’s or such serious fraudulent activity poses significant threat to the original certificate holders as well as the country’s education sector.
They are not only active in capital Dhaka, but also active in other metropolitan cities and district towns where they sell each of the documents to a section of dishonest people in exchange of money between Tk 80,000 and Tk 3 lakh.
A special squad of plainclothes police has arrested four members of a criminal gang engaged in selling counterfeit academic certificates and recovered academic certificates, mark sheets, and cash from their possession from the city’s Rampura area recently. According to police, a section of officials of some private universities and education boards have been directly involved in ‘online verification’ and sale of certificates. The law enforcers also seized a set up of electronic machines -- a laptop, a desktop computer, a printer, a scanner, and an embossing machine -- used for printing certificates, testimonials, and mark sheets.
The government will have to take
stern action against those who
obtain fake certificates and
apply for jobs or visas
Anybody can easily obtain a ‘near original’ fake certificates of honours, masters, MBBS, BDS, MPhil, and PHD degrees in exchange of money. They produce the certificate in the finest manner so that no difference between the fake and original certificate can be found.
They have also changed their traditional strategies, getting involved in producing counterfeit certificates using internet and digital system facilities. Using fake educational qualifications certificates like Masters, MBBS, BDS, MPhil, and PHD of different higher educational institutions, the members of organised racket identifying themselves as doctors or teachers are conducting operations at their clinics and teaching students.
They are playing with the lives of general people. Besides, these organised thugs are also cheating ailing people and embezzling crores of taka from them in many ways.
To cheat people the gang usually uses a fake website, attractive ads in different newspapers, social media platforms and computerised photos of the university campus. Since long these organised criminals are producing and selling fake certificates across the capital to a good number of students who buy them at minimal price. So, a section of dishonest people find the certificates easily to apply for jobs or get visas.
All educational institutions and government, and private organisations must develop and install reliable app at their respective offices immediately to verify their students or employees’ certificates. The government will have to take stern action against the people who obtain fake certificates and apply for jobs or visas.
