To check transaction of fake currency notes ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the authorities of Bangladesh Bank (BB) Rangpur office have set up about 250 booths equipped with fake note detectors to bring 193 cattle markets in eight northern districts.
Branches of other government and private-owned banks in the area are cooperating with the initiative while police and Rapid Action Battalion members have been deployed near the cattle markets, BB sources said.
Mobile courts are also in action.
However, prevalence of fake currency notes remains a matter of concern for common people, as offenders are hardly punished and return to the same illegal business after getting freed form jail.
As many as 226 cases on charge of making and transacting fake currency notes are now pending with courts of eight northern districts, said sources at BB Rangpur office.
Sixty-six of the cases are in Rangpur, 53 in Dinajpur, 36 in Kurigram, 28 in Lalmonirhat, 24 in Thakurgaon, 12 in Nilphamari, five in Panchagarh and two in Gaibandha district.
Some of the cases were filed seven or eight years ago, BB sources said.
In most of the cases, witnesses show unwillingness to give deposition in fear of harassment by powerful fake currency syndicates, said Akhkhoy Kumar Roy, public prosecutor of Nilphamari court.
In many cases, criminals manage to get free from police stations by adopting various unfair means, he said.
Several investigation officers of police probing cases involving fake currency notes alleged that defence lawyers often cause long delay in case proceedings by submitting petitions for time one after another and it deters witnesses from coming to the court for giving deposition.
“Under the existing laws, it is very difficult to ensure punishment to criminals involved in preparation and dealing with fake currency as many such cases are pending for even 8-10 years,” said Aminul Islam Akond, joint manager (Banking) of Bangladesh Bank, Rangpur, also in charge of the currency and claim section of the branch.
Bangladesh Bank submitted a set of recommendations to law ministry last year suggesting amendment of Section 6 of Speedy Trial Tribunal Act of 2002 for bringing such cases under the tribunal to ensure punishment of the offenders at the shortest possible time, he said.
Branches of other government and private-owned banks in the area are cooperating with the initiative while police and Rapid Action Battalion members have been deployed near the cattle markets, BB sources said.
Mobile courts are also in action.
However, prevalence of fake currency notes remains a matter of concern for common people, as offenders are hardly punished and return to the same illegal business after getting freed form jail.
As many as 226 cases on charge of making and transacting fake currency notes are now pending with courts of eight northern districts, said sources at BB Rangpur office.
Sixty-six of the cases are in Rangpur, 53 in Dinajpur, 36 in Kurigram, 28 in Lalmonirhat, 24 in Thakurgaon, 12 in Nilphamari, five in Panchagarh and two in Gaibandha district.
Some of the cases were filed seven or eight years ago, BB sources said.
In most of the cases, witnesses show unwillingness to give deposition in fear of harassment by powerful fake currency syndicates, said Akhkhoy Kumar Roy, public prosecutor of Nilphamari court.
In many cases, criminals manage to get free from police stations by adopting various unfair means, he said.
Several investigation officers of police probing cases involving fake currency notes alleged that defence lawyers often cause long delay in case proceedings by submitting petitions for time one after another and it deters witnesses from coming to the court for giving deposition.
“Under the existing laws, it is very difficult to ensure punishment to criminals involved in preparation and dealing with fake currency as many such cases are pending for even 8-10 years,” said Aminul Islam Akond, joint manager (Banking) of Bangladesh Bank, Rangpur, also in charge of the currency and claim section of the branch.
Bangladesh Bank submitted a set of recommendations to law ministry last year suggesting amendment of Section 6 of Speedy Trial Tribunal Act of 2002 for bringing such cases under the tribunal to ensure punishment of the offenders at the shortest possible time, he said.
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