Natore, Mar 8 (V7N) — A mobile court in Singra fined a fuel trader Tk 5,000 for illegally storing petroleum in an underground water tank, authorities said on Saturday.

The fine was imposed on trader Rubel Hossain, 34, by Executive Magistrate and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah Al Rifat.

According to officials, the drive was conducted around noon in the Ningoin Bhatopara area of the municipal town after authorities received information that fuel was being stored illegally in a water tank buried beneath the ground inside a bamboo grove. During the raid, authorities found approximately 10,000 liters of fuel stored in the tank in an open area, violating safety and legal regulations.

Following the inspection, the mobile court fined the trader and ordered him to transfer the stored fuel to a licensed shop within the next two days.

Meanwhile, during market monitoring operations at Sherkol and Hatiandah bazaars in the same upazila, Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan Tipu fined three traders a total of Tk 8,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act.

UNO Abdullah Al Rifat said the penalty was imposed under the Petroleum Act 2016 for illegal.

END/MRA/RH/