PABNA, 30 MAR (V7N) - Police in Chatmohar seized 2,400 liters of octane, petrol and diesel during an operation against illegal fuel hoarding and later sold the fuel in the open market at government-set prices.

The operation took place on Sunday evening at Ramchandrapur Battala intersection in Gunaigacha union. Law enforcers recovered the fuel stored in 12 barrels and detained two individuals—trader Mukul Hossain and Nosimon driver Shamsul Alam.

Authorities said the suspects were allegedly transporting the fuel for illegal storage and selling it at inflated prices amid an ongoing fuel shortage across the country. Local reports indicate that octane was being sold for as high as Tk 300 per liter, petrol at Tk 250, and diesel at Tk 200 in the black market.

Following the seizure, Musa Naser Chowdhury, Upazila Executive Officer and Executive Magistrate, arrived at the scene. He ordered the confiscated fuel to be transported to the Mathurapur area and sold directly to the public at official rates.

The magistrate also imposed fines on the accused—Tk 5,000 on Mukul Hossain and Tk 10,000 on Liton Hossain—for their involvement in the illegal activity.

Officer-in-Charge of Chatmohar Police Station, Golam Sarwar Hossain, said the operation was conducted based on intelligence reports that a group was hoarding fuel to create an artificial crisis.

He said, such drives will continue to prevent illegal hoarding and ensure fair fuel distribution during the ongoing shortage, which has already caused suffering for motorists and concerns for agricultural activities in the area.

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