Fake NIDs seized

Since Bangladesh's telecom regulator has taken a tough stance on registering mobile SIM cards, rackets have sprung up to fake national ID cards.

Police in Dhaka have busted one such gang who make money by supplying fake national ID cards and pictures needed for registration.

On Friday, police arrested Aminul Islam Mamun, 23, and Toufique Islam, 25, with over 53,000 fake NIDs and nearly 36,000 passport sized photos.

Briefing the media on Saturday, Dhaka police’s Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam said a set of a NID and a photo was sold to retail SIM sellers for Tk 25-30.

These fake documents were presented against SIM cards sold without registration, he said.

On Apr 1, the High Court ordered deactivation of all unregistered SIM cards.

It is difficult for the law enforcing agencies to track down criminals using these unauthorised SIMs for various subversive purposes.

The Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has recently initiated measures to check cell phone-based crimes by banning the sale of pre-activated SIM cards.

It has asked mobile operators to withhold SIM card activation for 72 hours and verify the buyers’ information during that time.

Police claimed the busted racket has been active for a long time.

Describing the raid, Monirul Islam said Kadamtali police arrested Mamun from East Dholaiparh in Dhaka with 4,650 fake NIDs and equal number of passport-sized pictures.

He told police that he has a partner in Tongi.

Police later raided a house in Tongi’s Arichpur Bazar area and arrested Toufique. A staggering 48,450 forged NIDs and 31,650 photos were seized from there.

A computer, printer, 15 Airtel and eight Banglalink SIM cards were also seized.