Dhaka, Feb 23 – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained four members of a gang of currency counterfeiters and seized fake currencies of various countries from their possession at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The detained are Shamima Nur Papiya, 28, her husband Mofizur Rahman Chowdhury Sumon, 38, and their associates Sabbir Khandokar, 29 and Sheikh Tayeba, 22. Papiya also held the post of Secretary in Narsingdi Mohila Jubo League.
RAB yesterday recovered a large amount of illegal money, including weapons, ammunition and alcohol, during a raid at Shamima Nur Papiya’s residence in both Dhaka and Narsingdi.
Earlier, on Saturday RAB detained Papiya when she was apprehended at HSIA around 11:30 am with her other associates. They were trying to flee to India, said RAB 1 Commanding Officer Shafi Ullah Bulbul, at a press conference at the battalion’s Karwan Bazar media centre on the same day.
However, Shafi Ullah Bulbul yesterday at another press briefing said that RAB recovered 1 foreign pistol, 2 magazines, 20 rounds of bullets, 5 bottles of foreign liquor, 58 lakh 41 thousand takas, five passports, three cheeks, foreign currency, ten ATM cards of different privet bank in her Indira road residence.
RAB said during primary Interrogation, it was revealed that Papiya has two luxury flats in Farmgate and Narsingdi, two plots in Narsingdi city worth Tk 2 crore, four luxury cars.
Papaya and her husband Sumon lured people in the name of giving job in Railway police and Police and earn taka 11 lakh, also earned 35 lakh taka in the name of the illegal gas connection and took 29 lakh taka in the name of giving license CNG pump.
RAB said that it was known that Papiya’s husband Sumon is a businessman. He helped her wife and also owned a bar in Thailand. He used to do unethical work with the help of his wife and forced poor women of remote areas of different district.
During detention, the Rab force also recovered counterfeit currency of Tk25, 600, US$11,091, 1,310 Indian rupees, and 420 Sri Lankan rupees from their possession, Shafi Ullah said.
RAB official claimed that in the name of car business Papiya was involved with arms dealing; drug trading, extortion and cheating. Her husband Sumon helped her to do these. More ever, a luxury room of Westin Hotel in Gulshan area was always booked in her name.
Papiya used to commit unethical deeds, using seven girls in the Westin Hotel. She used to pay them 30 thousand takas per month and in a total 2 lakh 10 thousand. RAB official said Papiya was the ringleader of the gang and smuggled counterfeit notes.
“She is also involved in illegal arms and drug trading, and a prostitution racket,” RAB official added.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jubo Mohila League has sacked Papiya for lifetime from her post. – Staff Reporter
