With Eid-ul-Azha approaching, Bangladesh Bank has instructed banks to set up counterfeit note detection booths at cattle markets.

A circular issued on 10 May asks commercial banks to appoint a coordinating officer each and to email that officer's name, designation and mobile number to Bangladesh Bank by 17 May.

The circular assigns banks to specific markets in the capital's North and South city corporations. For cattle markets outside Dhaka, the relevant Bangladesh Bank office will decide.

Under the instructions, note verification services must run non-stop at the approved cattle markets of Dhaka North and South city corporations until the night before Eid. In districts with no Bangladesh Bank branch, Sonali Bank will allocate duties among the banks.

In Dhaka North City Corporation, Islami Bank and Shimanto Bank are assigned to the Gabtoli market, AB Bank and National Bank to Mirpur Section-6, Al-Arafah Islami Bank and Eastern Bank to the Kalshi Balur Math, and IFIC Bank and Meghna Bank to the area next to Dhaka Polytechnic Institute.

At Merul Badda, East Hajipara, Basila, Uttara Diabari, Khilkhet, Banarupa, Mohakhali, Boro Beraid, Kachukhet and other sites, booths will be run by United Commercial Bank, NRB Commercial Bank, City Bank, Agrani Bank, BRAC Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, Bank Asia, Jamuna Bank, Shahjalal Islami Bank, Bengal Commercial Bank, Citizens Bank and BASIC Bank.

In Dhaka South City Corporation, 19 banks will work at 13 cattle markets. The Premier Bank and Uttara Bank will set up booths at Sarulia Bazar, Dutch-Bangla Bank and Bangladesh Krishi Bank at Postogola, Dhaka Bank and Rupali Bank at Khilgaon, and Janata Bank and One Bank at Amulia.

At Lalbagh, Shyampur, Kajla, Golapbagh, Banasree, Dayaganj and other areas, Modhumoti Bank, Community Bank, Jamuna Bank, Pubali Bank, BRAC Bank, Mercantile Bank, NCC Bank and Sonali Bank will handle fake-note detection.

The central bank has advised banks to coordinate with city corporations, district administrations, municipalities, law enforcement agencies and other local authorities to keep transactions running smoothly. It also says legal action will be taken against those involved if any counterfeit note is detected.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.