With just days remaining before Eid-ul-Azha, cattle markets for Qurbani animals have begun to gather momentum across the capital and other parts of the country. Amid billions of taka in cash transactions, counterfeit currency syndicates have once again become active.
Law enforcement agencies say fake notes are being circulated by exploiting the crowds at cattle markets, rapid cash exchanges, and sellers’ lack of vigilance. Alongside physical distribution, advertisements, orders, and delivery promises for “A-grade” counterfeit notes are also being openly posted on social media. Despite repeated arrests, the spread of fake currency continues unabated.
Officials say the surge in cash transactions ahead of Eid creates an opportunity for fraudsters to exploit public carelessness. In crowded environments, it often becomes difficult to properly verify banknotes during fast-paced exchanges. They warn that counterfeit currency is not only an economic crime but also a serious threat to financial security, eroding public trust and causing losses to traders and consumers alike.
Authorities stress the importance of public awareness in identifying fake notes, urging people to check watermarks, security threads, colour-shifting ink, and paper texture. Suspicious notes should be reported immediately to law enforcement instead of being concealed. Officials say stronger monitoring and awareness are key to curbing the spread of counterfeit currency.
Recently, the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) arrested three individuals in Uttara and Tongi along with counterfeit notes. Three specialized machines used in producing fake currency, along with other equipment, were seized.
Separately, RAB has carried out multiple drives against counterfeit money operations. In Motijheel, RAB-3 arrested two individuals, recovering counterfeit-making equipment, computers, scanners, colour printers, and fake notes worth Tk 20,000.
On May 18, RAB-4 arrested Md Sajib Hossain, 30, in Mohammadpur’s Housing Society area along with counterfeit notes and a production machine. Authorities seized Tk 18,900 in fake currency, a laptop, and equipment used in printing counterfeit notes.
RAB said Sajib is a professional counterfeit currency producer and trader who had been operating from a residential flat in Mohammadpur, where he installed machinery to produce fake notes. He allegedly collected PDF designs of counterfeit currency via Facebook from an individual in the Chawmatha area of Barishal, later printing and distributing the notes nationwide.
According to RAB, Sajib increased production ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, distributing large volumes of counterfeit notes in areas including Chattogram and Savar. He also maintained links with multiple suppliers and dealers across the country. He was previously arrested in 2024 by RAB-2 on similar charges.
On May 16, RAB also arrested three individuals in separate drives in Chattogram city and district, seizing counterfeit notes worth Tk 113,600. Officials said the notes were intended for distribution in Qurbani cattle markets.
Law enforcement agencies say cattle markets are the primary target of counterfeit networks due to high-volume cash transactions that continue late into the night. The rush of buyers and sellers often prevents proper verification of banknotes, especially during peak hours when vigilance declines.
Multiple intelligence sources say temporary counterfeit printing facilities have been set up in residential buildings, garages, and apartments across Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Jatrabari, Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Cumilla, and Chattogram.
Officials add that counterfeit production methods have become increasingly sophisticated. Syndicates are now using advanced printers, scanners, cutting devices, and specialized equipment instead of basic photocopy machines. Components are reportedly being smuggled into the country from India, China, and Dubai. Special paper, security threads, holograms, colour-shifting ink, and UV chemicals are being sourced from online markets and wholesale suppliers. Advanced software is also being used to scan and replicate genuine currency designs.
Investigators say the network operates in multiple tiers: one group handles design and printing, another manages transportation, and a third oversees distribution and marketing. Fake notes are moved across the country using inter-district courier services, buses, and goods transport vehicles.
Social media-driven counterfeit trade expands
Counterfeit currency networks are also increasingly active on social media platforms. Through Facebook pages and groups, operators openly advertise the sale of fake notes, promoting “A-grade” counterfeit currency and offering online orders, advance payments, and courier delivery services.
Pages operate under names such as “We make fake money,” “We sell fake money,” “A-grade fake notes wholesale,” “City of Money,” “Fake money market,” and “Fake currency dealer.” However, monitoring of posts and user interactions suggests that fraud is also occurring within these networks. Sellers use attractive images and videos to lure buyers.
In one widely circulated video, bundles of Tk 500 counterfeit notes are shown being unboxed, with captions claiming “real review” and “special offer for newcomers on the occasion of Qurbani Eid.” Other videos show stacks of fake notes being packed into cartons, while some posts display the printing process using high-end machines.
Legal loopholes and repeated bail
Experts and officials say many counterfeit offenders exploit delays in the judicial process and systemic weaknesses to secure bail and return to the same criminal activities.
Senior lawyer Manjur Alam said speedy trials and effective enforcement are essential to ensuring punishment in counterfeit currency cases. However, he noted that most cases fail to meet prescribed timelines, and in many instances, witnesses do not appear.
He said some counterfeit currency cases have remained pending for as long as 30 years. In many cases, defence lawyers deliberately prolong proceedings. Even when the High Court imposes deadlines, they are often bypassed through legal maneuvers. As a result, many accused secure bail due to the absence of timely witness testimony.
He also noted that when primary suspects cannot be arrested, family members are sometimes implicated, which further weakens cases and facilitates bail. The prolonged backlog, he said, remains the biggest challenge, allowing offenders to exploit legal loopholes.
What law enforcement says
RAB-4 Additional Superintendent of Police (Media) K N Rai Niyoti said RAB will maintain a strict stance at the Gabtoli cattle market to detect counterfeit notes. He urged the public to report any suspicious activity to RAB mobile courts stationed at the market.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said DB is actively working to dismantle counterfeit currency syndicates ahead of Eid. He said police units have already launched operations to identify and arrest members of these groups, while the cyber unit is intensifying surveillance of social media and online platforms.
RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Wing Commander M Z M Entekhab Chowdhury said special security measures have been put in place at cattle markets, including installation of counterfeit detection machines in key locations. Control rooms, undercover surveillance, and CCTV monitoring have also been deployed. He advised caution during large cash transactions.
