Authorities have intensified drives across the country against illegal stockpiling of fuel aimed at creating artificial shortages and selling at higher prices.
In separate operations on the same day, large quantities of petrol and diesel were seized in Satkhira, Meherpur and Pirojpur, while fines, detentions and jail terms were imposed, officials said.
Around 6,000 litres of diesel seized in Meherpur
In Meherpur Sadar upazila, a total of 5,800 litres of diesel were seized in two separate drives by the administration and police, and two individuals were detained.
The operations were carried out on Tuesday night. Police said around 5,000 litres of diesel were seized in a raid in Dakshin Shalika village of the upazila.
Abu Sufian, 40, son of Surat Ali and proprietor of Farabi Traders, was detained during the operation.
The diesel, stored in 27 barrels, was recovered from his residence during a raid around 2:30am.
Police said the accused failed to produce any valid documents and was suspected of hoarding the diesel to sell at higher prices.
In another raid in Fatepur village the same night, 800 litres of diesel stored in four barrels were recovered and one individual, Moazzem Hossain, was detained.
District administration Assistant Commissioner Entamul Haque said the raid was conducted based on complaints from locals, and the fuel was suspected to have been stored illegally for resale.
The seized diesel and detainees have been handed over to the police station, and legal action is underway, authorities said.
Around 2,000 litres of fuel seized in Pirojpur
In Mathbaria upazila of Pirojpur, a mobile court sentenced businessman Shamim Hasan Khan to 14 days’ imprisonment without labour for illegally stockpiling fuel and creating artificial shortages.
The operation was conducted on Tuesday afternoon under the leadership of Upazila Nirbahi Officer Aklima Akter and Assistant Commissioner Land Sudipta Debnath, with support from the army and intelligence agencies.
A total of 2,076 litres of fuel was seized from his residence, including 1,683 litres of diesel, 120 litres of petrol, 263 litres of kerosene and 10 litres of octane.
Authorities said storing such flammable substances in a residential area without valid documents posed a serious risk.
The seized fuel has been handed over to a filling station for sale at government rates.
800 litres of petrol seized in Satkhira, fine imposed
In Ashashuni upazila of Satkhira, a mobile court seized around 800 litres of petrol stored in four barrels at a grocery shop in Nakta-Kalibari market under Sriula Union.
The drive was conducted on Tuesday afternoon under the leadership of Executive Magistrates Md Saiful Islam and Md Towhidul Hasan of the district administration.
The shop owner, Marufa Khatun, was fined Tk10,000 during the operation.
Authorities said she had been illegally stockpiling petrol, purchasing it at Tk116 per litre and selling it at Tk220 to Tk250.
The seized petrol was later sold to local motorcycle riders at the fixed rate, and the proceeds were deposited into the government treasury.
Authorities said such drives will continue to prevent illegal fuel stockpiling, artificial shortages and market instability, and warned that strict legal action will be taken against offenders.
