Authorities have seized 87,700 litres of illegally hoarded fuel over a 24-hour period as part of a nationwide crackdown against the artificial fuel crisis, officials said on Tuesday.
The seizures were carried out across 64 districts through 391 operations, resulting in 191 cases and fines totalling Tk9,35,070, Joint Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division Monir Hossain Chowdhury told a regular press briefing at the Secretariat.
The seized fuel included 67,400 litres of diesel, 6,444 litres of octane, and 13,856 litres of petrol.
Three individuals were sentenced to imprisonment: one person received two months in Satkhira, another was sentenced to one year in Chandpur, and a third was given one month in Gazipur.
Magistrates from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division have continued regular operations in the capital’s Uttara embankment, Gabtoli, and Amin Bazar areas, monitoring the fuel supply situation. During a raid in the Uttara embankment area, shopkeepers fled upon sight of a mobile court vehicle.
Authorities seized 100 litres of diesel and 10 litres of octane from a roadside shop, which were then sold through a nearby filling station. The proceeds will be deposited into the government treasury.
Tag officers appointed for all petrol pumps
Following a decision made at an online meeting on March 27 chaired by Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Mohammad Saif ul Islam, a tag officer has been appointed for each petrol pump across the country.
The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has appointed tag officers in Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas. Outside these metropolitan areas, district administrations have appointed government officials as tag officers for petrol pumps in district and divisional towns, while upazila executive officers have done the same at the upazila level.
A total of 2,284 officials have been assigned as tag officers across the country, including 479 in Dhaka Division, 330 in Chattogram Division, 340 in Rajshahi Division, 301 in Khulna Division, 356 in Rangpur Division, 61 in Barishal Division, 104 in Mymensingh Division, and 135 in Sylhet Division. Additionally, 116 officials have been assigned in Dhaka Metropolitan Area and 62 in Chattogram Metropolitan Area.
The tag officers will work according to procedures determined by the Energy Division and BPC and will submit regular reports.
Adequate reserves, no crisis
The briefing also confirmed that as of 31 March, actual fuel reserves stood at 1,28,939 metric tonnes of diesel, 7,940 metric tonnes of octane, 11,431 metric tonnes of petrol, and 44,609 metric tonnes of jet fuel.
Authorities once again assured the public that there is no fuel crisis in the country.
