Police have arrested one suspect over alleged involvement with a racket that stole fuel oil by illegally tapping into a Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) pipeline in Mirsarai, Chattogram.
The gang built a tin-shed house directly over the pipeline to conceal the operation. The matter came to light on Thursday morning when local residents noticed oil floating in a pond adjacent to the Dhaka–Chattogram highway, north of Hadi Fakirhat Bazar in Mirsarai upazila.
On a tip off, police, fire service personnel, and upazila administration officials rushed to the scene, and cordoned off the area. A case has since been filed by the Petroleum Transmission Company (PTC), and a five-member investigation committee has been formed to probe the incident.
According to police and local sources, a tin-shed structure was erected over the BPC oil pipeline in the Hadi Fakirhat Bazar area about a month ago. The owner of the structure, Md Afsar, reportedly rented it out to a person named Amirul Islam.
After taking possession, Amirul, with the help of a racket, dug through the floor of the house and illegally tapped into the BPC pipeline located approximately 12 feet underground to siphon off fuel oil.
At one point, the pipeline leak became unstable, prompting Amirul to flee the area. As oil spread into the nearby pond, some locals gathered to collect it. Police and fire service personnel quickly established a security cordon to prevent further chaos and environmental damage.
Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ala Uddin Quader said, “An organised group attempted to steal oil by creating a leak in the BPC oil supply pipeline buried about 12 feet underground. Several drums filled with oil, a drilling machine, and other equipment were recovered from the site.
“BPC officials have already begun repairing the damaged pipeline.”
The pipeline, launched on 16 August, was constructed to transport fuel oil from Chattogram to the Dhaka region and is operated by PTC.
PTC Managing Director Raihan Ahmad told TIMES of Bangladesh that the leak has been brought under control.
“Repair work is underway and is expected to be completed by Friday. A case has been filed with Mirsarai Police Station, and a five-member investigation committee headed by General Manager Aminul Haque has been formed,” he said.
Regarding fuel loss, he added that the amount appeared to be limited and would be determined after further assessment.
Meanwhile, Mirsarai Police Station Officer-in-Charge Farida Yasmin said Nurjahan Begum, the wife of house owner Md Afsar, has been detained for questioning. “Efforts are underway to identify and arrest all individuals involved in this incident,” she added.
