A team of Bogura Detective Branch (DB) of Police recovered a large quantity of counterfeit cigarettes and counterfeit tax stamps after raiding an illegal cigarette factory in Shibganj Upazila of Bogura district on Friday (December 29). said a press release
A DB team recovered about 160,000 sticks counterfeit cigarettes of Derby brand, 5 lakh pieces of tax stamps, empty packets of Star and Derby brands and cigarette making equipment from Uthuli of Shibganj Upazila.
Bogura District DB Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mostafiz Hasan said, “we came to know that counterfeit cigarettes are being manufactured in the name of British American Tobacco Company in a house in Uthuli area. After receiving the information, we conducted a raid and recovered 160,000 sticks of Derby cigarettes, tax stamps, numerous scotch tapes, and foil papers.’’
According to DB sources, SM Tobacco has been illegally producing counterfeit cigarettes by setting up a factory in a remote area of Shibganj. These cigarettes are being sold in different markets of the country using counterfeit tax stamps on the packets. At least 50 lakhs of sticks could have been used for cigarettes with 5 lakh tax stamps seized.
In 2021, the factory of SM Tobacco was shut down by law enforcement. At that time, the name of the owner of that institution was Suraiya Sarkar. However, recently, after looking at the documents, it is known that the owner of the factory is Noor Imran Shahriar Sarkar. While contacted to Shahriar Sarkar, for a comment, the mobile was found switched off.
In 2021, the company used to produce illegal cigarettes using the Sathi cinema hall building in Bogura. RAB sealed it on allegations of revenue evasion of hundreds crore taka. Later, the company set up a factory again in a remote area of Shibganj.
According to the law, to set up a cigarette factory, about 19 approvals are required, including clearance from the Department of Environment. Besides, to market cigarettes, up to 81 per cent of tax has to be paid. Basically, illegal cigarette factories were built to evade the huge amount of tax.
According to concern officials, to set up a cigarette factory, around 19 approvals are required, including clearance from the Department of Environment. Moreover, to market cigarettes, up to 81 per cent of tax has to be paid. Actually, illegal cigarette factories were built to evade the huge amount of tax.
