United News of Bangladesh

A total of 87,700 litres of illegally hoarded fuel were seized during the countrywide mobile court drives across the country in the past 24 hours till Tuesday. The information was disclosed at a regular press briefing of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Division held at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Speaking at the briefing, Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury said that, based on reports from all 64 districts, a total of 391 drives were conducted across the country. Besides, a total of 191 cases were filed and fines amounting to Tk 9,35,070 were imposed during the drives. Meanwhile, one person was sentenced to two-month jail in Satkhira, one to one year in Chandpur and another to one month in Gazipur. According to the data, the seized fuel included 67,400 litres of diesel, 6,444 litres of octane and 13,856 litres of petrol. Meanwhile, magistrates of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division continued their regular drives in areas including Uttara Beribadh, Gabtoli and Amin Bazar in the capital, while monitoring the fuel supply situation. During a drive in the Dhaur Uttara Beribadh area, fuel was found being sold openly by the roadside. The shopkeeper managed to flee upon seeing the mobile court team. Authorities also recovered 100 litres of diesel and 10 litres of octane from the spot. The seized fuel was later sold to consumers through a nearby filling station and the proceeds will be deposited into the government treasury through official channels. The briefing also said that, following a decision taken at an online meeting on March 27 chaired by Energy Secretary Mohammad Saiful Islam, one ‘tag officer’ has been appointed for each petrol pump across the country. In Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has assigned tag officers, while in other districts and divisional cities, deputy commissioners and Opazila Nirbahi Officers have designated officials for the role. Tag officers will perform duties as per guidelines set by the division and BPC, take necessary actions as directed by higher authorities and submit reports accordingly. The briefing also provided a division-wise breakdown of tag officers, with the highest number—479—assigned in 13 districts under Dhaka Division. Cabinet committee approves emergency import of 260,000 tonnes of fuel As of March 31, 2026, the country’s fuel stock stands at 128,939 metric tonnes of diesel, 7,940 metric tonnes of octane, 11,431 metric tonnes of petrol and 44,609 metric tonnes of jet fuel. Officials assured that there is no shortage of fuel in the country.