Following the recovery of a major oil theft incident in Mirsarai, Chattogram, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has formed an investigation committee to look further into the matter, days after a similar committee was constituted by the Petroleum Transmission Company Limited (PTCL).
BPC officials said fuel oil were stolen by illegally piercing the national oil supply pipeline operated under BPC, prompting serious concern over the security of the newly commissioned pipeline network.
The three-member BPC investigation committee was formed on Saturday and is headed by BPC Manager (Trade and Operation) Mizanur Rahman. The deputy general manager of operation and planning has been appointed as the member secretary, while the second deputy manager for trade and operation is serving as a member.
The committee has been instructed to submit its findings within the next seven working days.
BPC Secretary Shahina Sultana confirmed the formation of the committee to TIMES of Bangladesh, saying that the corporation is treating the incident with utmost seriousness.
The oil theft came to light on Thursday morning, when local residents noticed splotches of fuel floating in a pond adjacent to the Dhaka–Chittagong highway, on the northern side of Hadi Fakirhat Bazar in Mirsarai upazila.
After officials were alerted, the police, BPC, fire service and the upazila administration rushed to the scene and took immediate steps to stop the oil leak.
According to BPC sources, the pipeline is part of a strategic project designed to transport fuel oil from Chattogram to the Dhaka region, reducing dependence on road and rail transport. Fuel transportation through the pipeline was officially inaugurated on 16 August.
The project is being implemented and operated by PTCL, a BPC subsidiary entrusted with pipeline-based fuel transportation.
PTCL Managing Director Raihan Ahmad told TIMES that the leak was quickly sealed after the incident was detected on 8 January. “We immediately went to the spot and stopped the leakage to prevent further loss and environmental damage,” he said.
He added that PTCL had earlier formed a five-member investigation committee on the same day, headed by General Manager Aminul Haque. That committee is expected to submit its report by next Wednesday. “The exact quantity of oil lost will be determined once the investigation committee completes its assessment,” Raihan Ahmad said.
Meanwhile, legal action has already been initiated in connection with the theft. Mahbubur Rahman, Deputy General Manager (Administration and Finance) of PTCL, has filed a case with Mirsarai Police Station. The case names three individuals and four to five unidentified persons as accused.
