Gangs dealing with counterfeit banknotes have become active in the cattle markets of Sylhet city ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, much to the worry of stakeholders.

"On Tuesday, I sold a cow for Tk 35,000 and counted the money in a hurry. Later I found one 500-taka note and two 100-taka notes to be fake," Mati Mia, a cow trader from Pachhatikal village in Guainghat upazila of Sylhet, said yesterday. 

Several cattle traders at Kazirbazar cattle market in Sylhet city alleged that along with fake Bangladeshi currency notes, counterfeit pound, dollar and riyal notes are also being circulated, especially targeting expatriates who come to observe the Eid with their relatives.

"We hope the city corporation authorities will set banknote checking machines at every cattle market in Sylhet," said Abdul Kadir, a cattle trader in Tilaghar area of Sylhet city.

"Counterfeit money dealing is nothing new, especially ahead of Eid. We are arranging drives by uniformed and plainclothes law enforcers to check the crime," said Rahamatullah, additional police commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police.