Mobile court seizes 6,000 litres of fuel in Jashore, fines traders

A mobile court seized around 6,000 litres of fuel during a drive against illegal stockpiling in Chougachha upazila of Jashore this afternoon (8 March).

During the operation, authorities recovered 5,600 litres of diesel, 242 litres of petrol and 38 litres of octane that had been illegally stored, officials said.

Trader Nizam Uddin of Solua Bazar under Phulsara union was fined Tk1 lakh for hoarding the fuel illegally. Another trader of the same market, Ruhul Amin, was fined Tk15,000 under the Weights and Measures Act.

Police said they conducted the initial operation after receiving a tip-off about the illegal stockpiling. They later informed the upazila administration.

Executive Magistrate Shoaib Hasan of the Jashore District Administration then conducted a mobile court and imposed the fines.

During the drive, authorities also seized 28 barrels of diesel, each containing around 200 litres, along with the petrol and octane.

Later in the afternoon, another mobile court led by Chougachha Assistant Commissioner (Land) Reshma Khatun conducted a drive at Chougachha Filling Station and fined Tk20,000 under the Weights and Measures Act.

Chaogachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tanvir Ahmed said the seized fuel has been kept at Mina Filling Station and RS Filling Station.

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