A Rangpur court on Tuesday handed 14-year rigorous imprisonment to two men for possessing counterfeit banderoles, along with a fine of Tk 10,000 each and an additional two months’ imprisonment in default of payment.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Md. Moshiur Rahman Khan of Rangpur Special Tribunal-1, Metropolitan Court, in the afternoon.
The convicts are Rezaul Karim (40), son of the late Tamiz Uddin of Haragach area, and Meherul Islam Saddam (31), son of Mokdum Ali.
Case records show that authorities recovered 4,000 sheets of fake banderoles from two cartons in their possession, with a total market value of Tk 4,80,000.
Public Prosecutor Md. Abdul Hadi Belal said the allegations were proven beyond doubt in court, and the judge found the accused guilty, sentencing them to 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposing fines.
Court Inspector Shahinur Alam of Rangpur Metropolitan Police confirmed the verdict and said it would serve as a deterrent against revenue theft through counterfeit banderoles. He added that the ruling is expected to discourage the illegal production and use of fake banderoles.