Photo : Collected
As Eid approaches, hundi traders are intensifying their efforts to capture a significant portion of expatriate income. Many individuals feel compelled to utilize hundi services to meet the additional expenses associated with Eid. However, this practice deprives the government of foreign exchange, as the money does not enter the country through legitimate channels.
Despite the availability of various incentives, the lack of awareness alone is not enough to deter the use of hundi. There exists an unequal competition between the government and hundi traders. Hundreds of crores of foreign currency are flowing into the hands of hundi traders due to their offering higher rates than government incentives. Regrettably, the hard-earned income of expatriates is being exploited for various criminal activities, including smuggling, exacerbating the detrimental impact of hundi on the economy.
According to reliable sources, approximately one crore expatriate Bangladeshis are engaged in employment or business endeavors across various countries worldwide, with a significant portion located in the Middle East. While remittances from developed countries constitute a smaller portion, substantial remittance inflows originate from certain Middle Eastern nations. Presently, Bangladesh receives an average of over $20 billion annually in remittances. To channel money as remittances face masks and head caps should be monitored at night or day along. If necessary, call 999. Alarm should be used to prevent motorcycle theft. Marine anchor chain made of steel needed to be used for locking. Motorcycles should be equipped with GPS trackers and high quality disc locks should be used on wheels.
He added, in recent time, the social phishing is a great trap for people. If you accept a friend request sent on Facebook in the name of an IPS or BCS officer, special forces officer, etc. from the country or abroad, you may be cheated or be a victim of blackmailing. Therefore, such friend requests should not be accepted. Do not accept video calls from an unknown person. They can blackmail you by recording obscene pictures or videos sent in such video calls and collect money.
He again said, “No person can close your bank account or BKash or cash account. The fraudsters may ask for account password or PIN number repeatedly in various ways, threatening to close the account. If you receive such a phone call, password or pin code cannot be given under any circumstances. If you receive a phone call saying that money has gone into Bkash account by mistake, don’t trust it without checking.”
“Do not believe that you have won the lottery or that you will receive an expensive gift or dollar from abroad. Fraudsters steal lakhs of taka by saying that they have to pay money at airport customs or NBR or Bangladesh Bank. Do not fall into such temptation under any circumstances. Don’t believe in the temptation to make crores of taka by investing in border pillars made of very expensive metals. Fraudsters steal crores of taka by showing fake pillars. In reality there is no such pillar.”
“If you receive a request to send urgent money to a relative, friend or acquaintance in danger on Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp or IMO ID, do not send money without contacting him/her in person. Such requests are sent by stealing mobiles, phishing or hacking different IDs. Don’t believe Facebook accounts or apps that offer cheap hotel rentals, plane tickets, or low-cost shipping to Europe, Canada, or America.”
DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman said to the media that everyone has already been warned about the overall security of the city dwellers. Each deputy commissioner of the eight divisions of the DMP has been directed to exercise utmost vigilance in the security arrangements of their assigned areas.
Messenger/Fameema
