Detectives are suspecting direct links between radical Jamaat-Shibir and banned terrorist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir Bangladesh. They also found clear indications of manufacturing and distributing forged revenue stamps across the country to collect funds for terrorism by Jamaat- Hizbut joint nexus. Talking to Bangladesh Post on Thursday, Mir Muddasser Hossain, deputy commissioner of the DB's serious crime unit, said, “ We found large numbers of forged revenue stamps, leaflets of banned Hizbut Tahrir, and Jamaat-BNP’s anti-government publication from a printing press in the city.”
Responding to a question about the alleged link between war crimes scandal-hit Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, he said, “We are currently investigating whether there are any connections between the two radical organizations.” He, however, admitted that the absconding printing press owner is involved with Jamaat.
Senior Assistant Commissioner, Md Solaiman Miah, team leader of the Robbery Prevention Team of Serious Crime Investigation Division of Detective Branch under Dhaka Metropolitan Police ( DMP), also said, “ We came to know that the absconding owner of the printing press where these forged revenue stamps and Hizbut leaflets were being printed since long, is an active Jamaat member.”
He however, refused to disclose the details of the identity of the fugitive Jamaat leader for the sake of proper investigation. Earlier on August 9, a team of DB led by senior AC Solaiman, arrested Md Naiyemul Islam,19 and Md Aminul Islam alias Mamun,44 from the city’s Nayapaltan area. DB police also seized forged revenue stamps worth Tk 1,02,00,000 from their possession. But sensing presence of DB team, Rasel Ahmmed alias Shanto, son of Md Faruque Akon, hailing from Kobirajpara under Taltola Upazila under Borguna district, managed to escape.
Law enforcers became worried after recovering large numbers of printed leaflets of banned militant outfit Hizbut Tahrir from their possession. DB officials are primarily suspecting that the printing press owner is directly involved in extremist Jamaat politics. But the most alarming information for them is printing of the Jhihadist publications of Hizbut from the same printing press.
As a result, Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, a specialized unit of DMP started a shadow investigation on the whole matter. They have already interrogated the arrested members in connection with printing forged revenue stamps and Hizbut leaflets. According to sources, the DB is continuously raiding to arrest absconding printing press owner Ahmmad Hossain Manik,62, Sourav,27, Monir, 25 and Masum, all allegedly linked with the network.
If they are arrested, DB will be able to unearth the whole gang in connection with manufacturing and distributing forged revenue stamps and Hizbut leaflets. DC Mir Muddasser Hossain said that printing press manager Shanto was arrested and produced before a Dhaka Court seeking remand. Shanto is one of the managers of the press while Sourav is the coordinator of distributing and marketing the forged revenue stamps.
Sourav was earlier arrested in connection with forged revenue stamps distributing few years ago. During the primary grilling, DB officials came to know that some pro-Jamaat advocates, staffs in different post offices, stamp vendors and deed writers are also connected with the criminal networks. By selling these forged revenue stamps, Jamaat-Hizbut joint networks have already earned huge amounts of money. Police suspect that this money may be used for anti-state activities.
Responding to a question, AC Solaiman said, “These forged revenue stamps are being sold at half the price.” People normally check big currency notes carefully. But they never check any revenue stamps. Thus, the criminal network has been easily distributing and marketing forged revenue stamps for a long time, causing huge financial loss for the government.