2.08 lakh litres of fuel recovered in nationwide raids: Minister
The minister emphasised that the government will not hesitate to take stricter measures in the public interest to prevent such malpractices.
Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku told the parliament today (30 March) that a total of 2.08 lakh litres of fuel have been recovered in recent operations.
The minister emphasised that the government will not hesitate to take stricter measures in the public interest to prevent such malpractices.
Between 3 and 29 March, a total of 3,168 operations were conducted across 64 districts, resulting in the recovery of 2,08,650 litres of illegally stored fuel, including 1,39,965 litres of diesel, 22,539 litres of octane, and 46,146 litres of petrol, according to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division (EMRD).
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So far, 1,053 cases have been filed, with 16 resulting in imprisonment, and offenders have been fined a total of Tk7,516,000.
EMRD Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury presented the information this morning at a press conference at the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
The energy minister said diesel accounts for 63% of the country's total fuel usage and supply is normal.
He added that octane accounts for 6.8% and petrol 6.77% of total consumption, and long queues at filling stations do not reflect the true state of fuel management.
"Artificial shortages have been created due to hoarding tendencies, which the government is actively addressing through additional fuel procurement," he said.
