Photo: Collected
Stolen bikes and private cars are being advertised on Facebook by a group using various pages. The market for bikes is particularly booming, as the demand for bikes is higher than private cars across the country, including the capital. This gang also offers to register stolen or border-crossed bikes. Previously, Facebook has been used by many to buy fake money, kidneys, and even weapons.
CID Additional Superintendent of Police Azad Rahman states that both those who advertise and those who buy are equally guilty. "Whoever is found with illegal items will be considered a criminal," he says. "This issue is under our attention, and our cyber team is monitoring these activities. We will take action on the matter soon."
Border Guard Bangladesh Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam says that since the beginning of this year, 94 bikes have been seized from across the border. The rate of smuggling bikes is currently higher than usual.
It has been revealed that several fraudsters are selling motorbikes and private cars by opening Facebook pages and IDs with various enticing names. For a long time, these fraudsters have been deceiving people with fake videos and pictures of motorcycles. They take advance payments from many individuals, offering these bikes at prices lower than the market rate. Financial transactions are conducted through cash and mobile payment systems like bKash. Many people end up being cheated, losing their money without ever receiving the bike.
Investigations have revealed that most of the smuggling syndicates are advertising cross-border bikes on social media and online from border areas. These advertisements provide mobile numbers for contact. Individuals who purchase these bikes due to various temptations end up driving them illegally, as the bikes lack valid approval or vehicle registration from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority.
Additionally, it has been found that members of this gang are selling stolen bikes by creating fake documents in the name of registered bikes, often changing the chassis numbers. For instance, on a Facebook page called 'Bike Sale Bazar Comilla,' a user named Mehdi Hasan posted an advertisement for a Gixxer SF Border Cross bike, priced at just 90,000 taka. He stated that he would sell the bike from the Kalmakanda area of Netrakona and provided a mobile number for contact. However, repeated calls to this number did not connect to anyone.
Another Facebook page called SK Bike BD claims to provide cross-border motorbike home delivery across the country. To receive a bike, customers must pay a 6,400 taka delivery booking fee. They also claim that if you buy a border-cross bike from them, they can register it with the BRTA.
A Facebook user named Atiqur Rahman Abhi posted on another page called 'Bike Mart' that he sells cross-border Indian motorbikes at low prices. He provided mobile numbers for contacting him via WhatsApp instead of direct calls. In his advertisement, he offers One Five motorbikes for just 70,000 taka, which typically have a market value of 5 lakh taka.
Communication on WhatsApp using the provided number 01778017784 revealed that a person named Janin claimed they provide home delivery of border-cross bikes across the country. To secure a bike, customers must pay 5,400 taka in advance to their bKash number. The bike is then promised to be delivered to their home. When asked for the address of their showroom, they provided a location in Sylhet, which was later found to be fake. In addition to bikes, private cars are also advertised on these pages.
Several fraudsters on Facebook are scamming motorbike enthusiasts with flashy advertisements. Occasionally, some of these fraudsters are arrested during operations conducted by law enforcement agencies.
In addition to stolen vehicles, advertisements on various sensitive topics such as kidney and liver sales, as well as illegal weapons, are also appearing on Facebook. A gang using the platform is making millions by trapping unsuspecting individuals.
Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) Deputy Director (Administration) Ripon Kumar Saha stated that BRTA conducts regular operations against any unregistered vehicles. BRTA has an enforcement branch, and operations are conducted through the magistrate there. Numerous illegal vehicles are being seized during these operations, and those involved are also being fined.
When asked about the possibility of registering illegal motorbikes that have crossed the border, he confirmed that there is no possibility of registering such bikes. Smuggled motorbikes are illegal, and there is no scope for their registration. Only legal motorbikes can be registered.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner of Traffic (promoted to the post of Additional DIG) Mainul Islam stated that no illegal vehicles are allowed on the road, whether they are bikes, private cars, or bus, trucks. He emphasised that the police regularly patrol the streets and intercept illegal vehicles.
Commander Arafat Islam, Director of the Legal and Media Wing of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), mentioned that RAB has been conducting regular operations against smugglers. He assured that if someone has been cheated, RAB takes immediate action upon receiving a complaint. He also noted that RAB operations are ongoing to apprehend motorbike smugglers.
Messenger/Disha
