Mobile courts seize 21,566 litres of diesel in 5 districts

Law enforcement agencies and mobile courts have seized a total of 21,566 litres of illegally stored diesel in five districts amid ongoing drives against fuel hoarding and black-market trading.
In Narayanganj, authorities recovered the highest amount -- 13,980 litres -- during two separate drives in Siddhirganj on Tuesday.
Acting on secret information, a mobile court first seized 9,100 litres of diesel from illegal stockpiles near the Meghna depot in Godnail around 6:00pm, said Arif Sadeq, information officer of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MPEMR).
The court fined Sifat Tk 6,000 and sentenced him to two months' simple imprisonment.
Later that night, another raid in the SA Road area near the same depot led to the recovery of 4,880 litres of diesel stored illegally in a house. The accused, Nasir, was fined Tk 3,000 and sentenced to one month's imprisonment.
In Meherpur, a joint team of police seized 5,375 litres of diesel from a secret warehouse in Dakshin Shalika village during a late-night operation, report agencies.
Police arrested Abu Sufian, owner of a local business named "Farabi Traders", for storing the fuel without valid documents. Officials said the fuel was being hoarded for sale at higher prices.
In Lakshmipur, police recovered 1,360 litres of diesel from eight plastic drums hidden in a canal in Ramgati upazila late Tuesday night.
Officer-in-Charge Liton Dewan said the fuel was likely concealed to create an artificial shortage and sell it at inflated prices. The suspects managed to flee the scene.