Fake Bangladesh currency is being smuggled from a neighbouring country, prompting Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to increase border surveillance, while police step up efforts to curb counterfeit notes within the country, officials said.

In a statement to the media on Thursday, BGB said operational and intelligence patrols have been intensified to prevent circulation of counterfeit notes across border areas, and public awareness efforts have been increased. The BGB urged citizens to report any information about fake taka.

Assistant Inspector General of Police AHM Shahdat Hossain told the Daily Sun the police are aware of the issue and have tightened intelligence operations to combat the influx of counterfeit currency.

On 1 October, a post by an international agency journalist on Facebook warned that counterfeit Bangladeshi currency amounting to around Tk200,000 crore might be smuggled into the country. Authorities say that warning gained urgency after a Sherpur Sonali Bank branch detected counterfeit notes worth Tk78,000 deposited by two customers, Nur Mia and Shahina Begum, who had withdrawn the money from Sherpur Post Office on 9 and 13 October, respectively.

Following those discoveries, police arrested post office cashier Manik Mia and treasurer Hafizur Rahman. According to court records, Hafizur gave a confessional statement.

Sherpur Superintendent of Police Aminul Islam told the Daily Sun that police activity has been increased to trace those involved in smuggling and distributing the fake taka. Sources in Sherpur said several local smugglers were coordinating with contacts across the border; two youths operating near the Jhenaigati and Nalitabari border areas were identified as active participants.

Sources added that counterfeit Tk100,000 notes were being sold for Tk35,000–36,000. 

Criminals reportedly travel to the neighbouring country to obtain fake taka, which is then brought back and circulated in Bangladesh.

Investigations indicate some post office staff colluded with the smugglers to distribute the counterfeit notes.

The counterfeit currency is also being sold through social media platforms, particularly Facebook, where criminals have opened accounts and groups to sell fake notes. One such page, “Jal Taka Sell,” recently posted on Facebook, instructing dealers to contact the account administrators to obtain fake currency.