Sakhipur Upazila administration in Tangail recovered 5,180 litres of illegally hoarded fuel in a drive to tackle the ongoing fuel crisis.
A mobile court, led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shamsunnahar Shila, also sentenced the owners of two establishments to five days of simple imprisonment each.
Police, prosecution officials and representatives from Meghna Depot were also present at that time.
During the drive, authorities seized 3,516 litres of diesel and 1,664 litres of petrol.
According to Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Shamsunnahar Shila, a total of 4,500 litres of petrol and 4,500 litres of diesel had been supplied to Purbodesh Filling Station on the night of 24 March.
As per regulations, the fuel was supposed to be sold on 25 March at government-fixed prices.
However, instead of storing it at the filling station, the business establishment allegedly facilitated the illegal stockpiling of the fuel at Messrs Jahangir Enterprise.
Based on the owner’s confession, testimonies from affected consumers and the recovered fuel, the upazila administration conducted the drive on the night of 25 March, and seized the hoarded fuel.
According to victims, the fuel was being sold at prices around Tk10 higher than the government rate, creating an artificial shortage and causing public suffering.
For this offence, the owner of Purbodesh Filling Station was sentenced to five days’ imprisonment under the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009.
Meanwhile, the owner of Jahangir Enterprise received the same punishment under the Petroleum Act, 2016 for illegally storing fuel without a licence and selling it at inflated prices.
The upazila administration confirmed the matter, adding that such drives will continue in the public interest.
