Indian delegation to form joint panel in Dhaka on fake currency

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to take forward the first MoU on fake currency signed between India and Bangladesh during PM Narendra Modi’s visit in June this year, a high-level India delegation is visiting Dhaka on Tuesday to formalise the setting up of a joint task force as agreed upon under the pact.

The 12-member task force will have members from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), officials from the Union home and finance ministries and representatives from the governments of West government and Tripura. During the four-day meeting, the delegation is expected to explain in detail the existence of “high quality” fake currency, allegedly originating from Pakistan, and being pumped into India.

At the time of signing of the pact on June 6-7, both countries had agreed to cooperate in tracking the routing of fake currency notes, sharing knowledge, besides institutional cooperation, including capacity building, investigation requirements and operational efficiency.

According to the MoU, first reported by ET on May 27, New Delhi and Dhaka have agreed to exchange information, including details of persons involved in smuggling of fake notes.

The NIA and the Home Department of Bangladesh are the nodal agencies for executing the project.