The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested the alleged ringleader of a fraud gang for swindling job seekers out of millions of taka by promising them government jobs.
The arrestee was identified as Md Bablu Kazi, 60.
The gang allegedly forged government officials’ seals and a deputy secretary’s signature to prepare fake appointment letters, joining letters and gazettes to convince job seekers that they had secured government employment.
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To make the fraud appear genuine, the gang even paid victims Tk 30,000 per month for the first three months, according to police.
DB’s Wari Division arrested Bablu Kazi during an operation in the Mirpur area under Pallabi Police Station on Friday.
At a press conference at the DMP Media Centre on Saturday, Additional Police Commissioner (Detective Branch) Md Shafiqul Islam said Bablu Kazi and his associates had long been defrauding people by posing as officials of the Ministry of Land.
The gang allegedly entered into agreements with job seekers, promising them government jobs without any examination. They would tell the victims that they could pay the money even after joining the job, he said.
Recently, the gang allegedly took Tk 13 lakh from Md Sabuj Sarker, a resident of Nagarkanda in Faridpur, promising him a government job. The money was taken from him at different times between June 25 and July 26.
Police said the gang used forged government seals and the signature of a deputy secretary to prepare fake appointment letters and gazettes. They would then take job seekers to government offices and have them sign fake attendance registers.
The gang allegedly paid the victims Tk 30,000 per month from its own funds for the first three months so that the fraud would not be detected easily. After taking a large amount of money, the members would cut off communication and go into hiding.
Police recovered fake appointment orders, joining letters and gazettes bearing forged government seals and signatures, as well as a fake attendance register, from Bablu Kazi.
During the investigation, DB found that the gang targeted government offices where large numbers of people gathered. One member would pose as a senior government official, while others would act as his driver or office assistant and move freely around government offices.
A regular case has been filed with Pallabi Police Station in connection with the incident.
The DB is continuing its drive to arrest other members of the gang, police said.