6,000 litres of fuel seized in Jashore, 3 traders fined Tk1.35 lakh

A mobile court in Chougachha upazila in Jashore seized around 6,000 litres of illegally stored fuel and fined three traders a total of Tk 1.35 lakh during separate drives on Sunday afternoon.

Executive Magistrate Shoaib Hasan of the Jessore district administration conducted the drive at Salua Bazar under Phulsara Union.

During the drive, trader Nizam Uddin was fined Tk1 lakh for illegally stockpiling a large quantity of fuel.

Authorities seized 5,600 litres of diesel, 242 litres of petrol, and 38 litres of octane from his warehouse.

In the same market, another trader, Ruhul Amin, was fined Tk 15,000.

Later around 4pm, another mobile court led by Chaugachha Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Reshma Khatun conducted a drive at Chougachha Filling Station in the town.

The station's manager, Golam Mostafa, 75, was fined Tk20,000 under the Weights and Measures Standards Act.

The action followed complaints from several motorcycle riders who reported mechanical problems after purchasing fuel from the station, alleging that the fuel might have been mixed with kerosene.

According to court sources, police led by Officer-in-Charge Rezau l Islam of Chougachha Police Station recovered the illegally stored fuel following a tip-off and informed the upazila administration.

Acting on instructions from the district administration, the executive magistrate later conducted the mobile court at the spot.

A total of 28 barrels of diesel — each containing 200 litres — along with the petrol and octane were seized during the drive.

Chougachh Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanvir Ahmed said the seized fuel has been stored at Mina Filling Station and RS Filling Station.

The fuel will be sold to consumers at fair prices, and the proceeds will be deposited in the government treasury.