Editorial
Money forging gangs cash in on Eid
Must be dealt with a stern hand
The Detective Branch of police recently arrested two forger gangs and seized over 3.5 crore taka and 1.76 lakh Indian rupees in fake currency, along with forged note-making equipment near Dhaka. According to the self-confessed forgers themselves, 'Eid is the best season' for their business and the plan was to spread Tk. 100 crore in fake notes at different markets ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The spread of counterfeit currency across the country, especially preceding Eid, has become a major problem, with unscrupulous dealers profiting in the thousands for every lakh taka of forged notes they can sell.
Meanwhile, for the people and legitimate traders, the joy and celebration of Eid has become tinged with the anxiety of falling victim to such crimes. Last Eid, too, they were warned about forged notes, even those coming out of the various automated bank machines. And, while stores have fake note detecting equipment and now, as promised by the Home Minister, they will also be installed at cattle markets across the country, people's awareness of this crime is not all there is to it. In fact, we would suggest that they must be acquainted with the thumb rules to detect counterfeit notes in order to prevent such deception.
While lauding the law enforcing agencies for apprehending the two gangs, we must point out that their work is far from over. There are probably many more such gangs and clandestine manufacturing units operating in the country. They have adapted to modern technology with the use of laptop computers and other advanced equipment and the law enforcers must tackle them with as much ingenuity. Through strict vigilance, informed intelligence and thorough investigation, they must be unearthed and given exemplary punishment so as to deter others from becoming involved in such crimes in future.
We hope the authorities will take up the matter with urgency and relieve the people as well as traders across the country, who wait all year to do profitable business legitimately during the festive occasion of Eid, from anxiety and financial loss.
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