Selling fake gold bars, earning crores

Bashar Molla used to introduce himself as the assistant personal secretary of a high-ranked customs official. By doing so, he formed a fraud gang, which lured people to buy fake gold bars, magnetic pillars and coins.

The gang also consisted of fake chemists and experts to gain the buyer's trust.

They have allegedly earned Tk 11 crore by deceiving people in this way.

The detective branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police claimed to have recently arrested 10 people in connection with this scam.

The arrestees are -- Bashar Molla (53), Sheikh Sohag Hossain Mintu (33), Deen Mohammad (41), Jewel Shikder (46), Mozammel Khan alias Akash (40), Sheikh Ali Akbar (57), Jamal Farazi (55), Sohail Shikder (30), Billal Hossain (32), and Shahriar Iqbal (25).

Four fake gold bars, a gold bar making machine, copper wire, wire melting machines, and fake ID cards of human rights organisations and civil aviation authorities were seized from their procession.

Talking at a press briefing, DB Joint Commissioner Sanjit Kumar Roy said Bashar Molla was the ringleader of the gang. He introduced himself as the APS of Director of Customs and lured people to buy fake gold bars at low prices.

His associate Mintu used to meet potential buyers in person and introduced himself as an admin official at customs to gain credibility. Deen Mohammad and Jewel Shikder introduced themselves as goldsmiths, while Mozammel Khan alias Akash pretended to be a chemist and nuclear expert.

There are multiple cases against the arrestees with Kalabagan Police Station, Dakshinkhan Police Station, Uttara-Purba Police Station, Kashimpur Police Station and Fakirhat Police Station of Bagerhat.