DHAKA: Many foreign criminals are committing crimes here in the name of investment in tourism and garments sectors. In recent disclosures of Rapid Action Battalion and Detective Branch of police it has been learnt from at least fifty detained foreigners.
During last four months drive, it was seen that of the detained 44, some four Africans were members of forged money gang, three were members of Pakistan-based militant organization and 37 were illegal VOIP businessmen identified as Chinese and Taiwanese citizens.
According to the draft statistics of police, three foreigners in 2011, 29 in 2012 and 67 in 2013 were arrested for various crimes. So far seven foreigners were arrested in current year.
Why those criminals have selected Bangladesh as their center point? With what object they come here and what they do here? Is any Bangladeshi is involved with them? Why they make their establishments in Uttara and Baridhara areas? An investigation of Banglanews to this end has revealed the answers of those questions.
The identity with which the offenders come here…….
In the investigation of Banglanews it was found in verifying their passport that generally the criminals come here in the guise tourists, garments businessmen, importers & exporters or for doing business in information technology and telecom sectors. Behind the curtain of these identities they are committing crimes.
Commander of RAB-1 Lt. Col. Kismat Hayat told Banglanews that most of the detained gave their identity as businessmen or investors. But the number of tourist visa carrier are not less, he said.
Coming with student visa they are taking admissions in universities and committing crimes.
Above these they are committing crimes coming with transit visa.
Director of RAB’s media wing ATM Habibur Rahman informed that another group of frauds come here for going to other countries. Then they destroy their passports either or there is no similarity with their own names.
Investigations revealed that they are committing various crimes after taking admission in the universities with student visa.
Most foreign students in large number read in Dhaka University, North South, East West and American International University.
Joint Commissioner of DMP Monirul Islam in the last week in a press briefing organized with detained three Africans with forged currency and currency making chemicals told that most foreign criminals come here with tourist visa. They were welcomed as tourists and taking the opportunity they committed crimes.
The crimes of the foreigners and the collusion of the Bangladeshis…
It is learnt from the investigation that before coming over here they set up contacts with the local agents. After arrival they are being boarded in the posh hotels. Next with the help of the agents they shifted to rented houses in Gulshan, Uttara and Baridhara areas.
The local agents of those foreigners are the citizens of this country, foreign diplomats and the African footballers of the Premier League.
Though RAB and police admitted these as true but did not bring any definite allegation against anybody.
RAB media wing director ATM Habibur Rahman told, ‘behind single foreigner’s crime there is the collusion of 2/1 local agents. Many foreigners marry Bangladeshi girls and getting citizenship commit crimes.
Setting matrimonial relations they do drug peddling, illegal VOIP business, credit card fraudulence and commit big crimes including making forged Bangladeshi and foreign currencies.
RAB commander Lt. Col. Kismat Hayat told that the foreigners are involved with fraudulent business adopting modern tactics. We took the help of London based digital forensic laboratory to catch the Chinese and Taiwanese offenders.
Why Bangladesh?
The foreigners often make this country as the center point of international crimes. Because the foreigners here are given much concessions and respect. Besides, the foreign criminals take our law enforcers as less efficient and weak.
To this Lt. Col. Kismat informed that due to less expenditure for entering the country, less costly boarding and lodging and internet facilities. But it is ‘misfortune’ for them that they thought our law enforcers too weak.
Misuse of on- arrival visa…….
The passport holders of USA, Canada, Australia, Newzealnd, Russia, China, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Arab-Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Europeans are given 30 days on- arrival visa.
It means that they can take this visa only after coming to Bangladesh airports. In that case the Bangladesh embassy has no scope of verification. Utilizing this scope the foreign criminals are committing crimes.
RAB officer Lt. Col. Kismat Hayat informed that using our good diplomatic relations with other countries the criminals are committing crimes here.
BDST: 1343 HRS, FEB 16, 2014
