An office assistant at Rangpur deputy commissioner's (DC) office has been arrested for forging documents and the DC's signature to issue fake licences for firearms, many of them procured illegally.
A RAB 13 team arrested the accused, Shamsul Islam, from Dhaka’s New Market area around Wednesday midnight.
At a media briefing the following day, RAB 13 commander Atikullah said Sahmsul used to issue fake licences of firearms to people across the country in exchange for money.
“He used false name and addresses of people to issue more than a hundred fake licences,” he added.
Shamsul's misdeeds attracted the law enforcers' attention after print and electronic media ran stories on him.
During a drive at Rangpur DC office following the reports, 15 fake licences, FDR worth Tk7 lakh and savings certificates worth Tk2 lakh were recovered.
Mintu Bishwas, who is also an official of Rangpur DC office, filed a case with Rangpur kotwali police.
Shamsul has been absconding since reports were run on him. RAB arrested him after being tipped off about his location.
The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating the case.
Earlier, an investigative report regarding the issuance of more the 400 fake licences for firearms from Rangpur DC office was published in Bangla Tribune.
Rangpur ACC found at least 150 firearms were bought using these fake licences and all the names and addresses used during the purchases were fake.
ACC has expressed grave concern over the final destination of these firearms.
RAB was supposed to hand over the accused to ACC on Thursday, said ACC’s Regional Deputy Director Mozahar Ali.
The accused will be produced before the court with 10-day remand plea on Friday, the ACC official added.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
