Bangladesh and India are planning to carry out a joint drive against currency counterfeiters and smugglers once both countries prepare and share respective criminal databases.
Bangladesh has already completed its own database of counterfeiters, terrorists and smugglers, and is now waiting for its neighbour’s database, said Additional Inspector General of Police Mokhlesur Rahman. As soon as the Indian database is received, the two sides would conduct the joint operation, he added.
Mokhlesur made the comments at the police headquarters following a two-day meeting of a joint task force with India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA). SK Singh, inspector general of the NIA, led a 15-member delegation that arrived in Bangladesh last Tuesday.
During the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was also signed. Although the main agenda was to discuss ways to stop counterfeiters, the top law enforcement officials also talked about the smuggling of gold, arms and drugs across the borders.
Additional IGP Mokhlesur said counterfeit money has had a negative impact on both countries’ economy, adding that the Indian delegation has expressed concerns about a large amount of counterfeit Indian rupees coming from Bangladesh. Bangladesh, on the other hand, expressed concerns about drug smuggling, he added.
Joint efforts were on to seek out the sources of counterfeit money, Mokhlesur said, adding that Indian law enforcers have agreed to provide all technical support and training in this regard.
Addressing the press briefing, NIA Inspector General SK Singh said the Indian government was very concerned about the counterfeit currency menace, as it not only effected the economy but was also linked to other criminal activities.
Earlier, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Dhaka visit in June, the two countries also signed an MoU regarding the drug and counterfeit money issue.
A delegation from Bangladesh also travelled to India on July 12 to hold a two-day meeting on the counterfeit currency issue. Officials from both countries’ Foreign and Home Ministries were present at that meeting.
According to sources at the meeting, discussions were held on how the counterfeit money was the main source of funding for banned Islamist outfits Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Indian Mujahideen.
In their investigation, the Indian NIA team found that the accuracy of the counterfeit money produced by the terrorists made it difficult to trace it even in laboratory examinations. Different militant groups in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan exchanged fake money across the borders, the investigation also found.
Sources said the routes for smuggling counterfeit notes included Sherpur, Sunamganj, Jessore, Comilla and Satkhira in Bangladesh; and Muridabad and Malda in India. Different security initiatives like joint petrol, surveillance and permanent check posts have so far failed to put a stop to counterfeit money being smuggled.