STAR REPORT

As the government continues its drives against hoarders, large quantities of fuel have been seized in two districts.

In a joint operation, law enforcement and intelligence agencies seized 800 litres of fuel in Chandanaish of Chattogram on Thursday night for being transported illegally to be sold at higher prices.

Chandanaish Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Jhantu Bikash Chakma led the raid in Dewanhat area.

According to upazila administration sources, 600 litres of diesel and 200 litres of octane, stored in four large drums, were being transported on a trolley from Dohazari to Bailtali Yunus Market in the upazila.

Md Sayeed, son of Nur Mohammad from the market area, was intercepted while transporting the fuel, upazila administration officials said.

Investigators said the fuel was intended to be sold at inflated prices in the local market, bypassing official regulations.

Chandanaish Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Rajib Hossain confirmed the seizure.

In Noakhali, the Subarnachar upazila administration seized 750 litres of diesel that had been illegally stored in a rooftop water tank of a residence in Char Jabbar union on Thursday night.

The hoarder was fined Tk 10,000 for illegal stockpiling.

The operation was conducted by Executive Magistrate and Subarnachar UNO Akib Osman.

Acting on a tip-off, the mobile court raided the house of Bashir Sareng and recovered the fuel, the UNO said.

Meanwhile, in Barguna and Patuakhali, a prolonged shortage of diesel and petrol has left many fishing trawlers non-operational, rendering several thousand fishermen jobless.

Yusuf Fakir, a trawler owner from Mohipur in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali, said he had prepared to head to sea with his fishing vessel, FB Ma-Babar Doa, after the Eid holidays.

“I spent around Tk 50,000 on preparatory work such as collecting ice and hiring fishermen. However, the trip was cancelled due to the fuel shortage,” he said.

(Our respective correspondents contributed to the report.)