Authorities in Chattogram have seized around 6,000 liters of diesel illegally stored in water tanks by a businessman seeking to make excess profit amid the ongoing fuel crisis.
The operation was carried out on Friday near the Shah Amanat International Airport area, where a joint team of the district administration and city police recovered the fuel from a warehouse. In addition to the diesel, loading and unloading pumps used for fuel transfer were also seized. The total estimated value of the recovered items is about BDT 800,000.
According to officials, the businessman had been stockpiling diesel for a long time, taking advantage of the fuel shortage. The fuel was secretly stored in two water tanks, with plans to sell it at higher prices on the open market. The identity of the accused has not yet been disclosed.
Executive Magistrate Subrata Halder said:
“Based on specific intelligence, we conducted a mobile court operation. Along with illegal diesel, equipment used for fuel transfer was also seized.”
Officer-in-Charge of Patenga Police Station, Mostafa Ahmed, added:
“Legal action against the businessman is underway.”
Police also confirmed that two more individuals have been detained, and a case is currently being processed.
