Counterfeit revenue stamps flood market
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Jubair Hasan
Counterfeit revenue stamps continue to flood the market depriving the authorities of a significant amount of revenue as a recent drive has failed to bust the den of the criminals thriving on the illegal business.
Incidences of cheating innocent people with the sale of forged stamps remain unabated.
Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the finance ministry recently conducted drives with the help of law enforcing agencies to stop selling of the counterfeit stamps.
An organised gang is behind the marketing of fake stamps across the country after printing them elsewhere, IRD joint secretary Shaheen Khan said.
"We'll conduct another drive soon as the government is losing a large amount revenue every year due to circulation of fake stamps," she added.
According to IRD sources, the government earns around Tk 50 billion by selling revenue stamps and stamp papers a year.
Directorate of Bangladesh Post Offices has requested the people to procure revenue stamps only from the post offices and not to get cheated by individuals selling counterfeit stamps.
It informed the public that the authentic stamps, worth Tk 5 each, have the distinctive features like word 'GOB' printed with ultraviolet ink in five places.
The directorate also urged all revenue stamp users in government, semi-government and private sectors as well as the individuals to remain cautious while buying the stamps.
Members of RAB recently arrested two persons along with stamps of different denominations worth about Tk 40 million which were being readied for printing.
The detainees told reporters that they were just readying the process of making the stamps. These would be printed elsewhere, they informed the RAB without giving any further information.
The criminals said several hundreds of them are involved in forgery of stamps.
According to the law, it is punishable offence with imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment that might extend upto fourteen years, and fine.
Counterfeit revenue stamps continue to flood the market depriving the authorities of a significant amount of revenue as a recent drive has failed to bust the den of the criminals thriving on the illegal business.
Incidences of cheating innocent people with the sale of forged stamps remain unabated.
Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the finance ministry recently conducted drives with the help of law enforcing agencies to stop selling of the counterfeit stamps.
An organised gang is behind the marketing of fake stamps across the country after printing them elsewhere, IRD joint secretary Shaheen Khan said.
"We'll conduct another drive soon as the government is losing a large amount revenue every year due to circulation of fake stamps," she added.
According to IRD sources, the government earns around Tk 50 billion by selling revenue stamps and stamp papers a year.
Directorate of Bangladesh Post Offices has requested the people to procure revenue stamps only from the post offices and not to get cheated by individuals selling counterfeit stamps.
It informed the public that the authentic stamps, worth Tk 5 each, have the distinctive features like word 'GOB' printed with ultraviolet ink in five places.
The directorate also urged all revenue stamp users in government, semi-government and private sectors as well as the individuals to remain cautious while buying the stamps.
Members of RAB recently arrested two persons along with stamps of different denominations worth about Tk 40 million which were being readied for printing.
The detainees told reporters that they were just readying the process of making the stamps. These would be printed elsewhere, they informed the RAB without giving any further information.
The criminals said several hundreds of them are involved in forgery of stamps.
According to the law, it is punishable offence with imprisonment for life, or rigorous imprisonment that might extend upto fourteen years, and fine.