A mobile court has fined a businessman for illegally storing around 18,000 litres of diesel inside a residential building in Sherpur town.
Led by Executive Magistrate Md Mahmudul Hasan, the drive was conducted late Thursday night at M/s Shimla Traders in the Goalpatti area following a tip-off, officials said.
Owner Tapas Nandi was fined Tk 10,000 after allegations of hoarding diesel .
The court also ordered the removal of the stored diesel and kerosene to a safer location by Friday evening and imposed a permanent ban on selling fuel oil from residential premises.
According to local sources, the businessman had long been selling diesel and kerosene to farmers and small traders.
Although it held a licence for retail sales, a large storage tank with a capacity of about 27,000 litres had been set up beneath a residential building, where around 18,000 litres of diesel were kept.
Authorities said the business lacked required clearances from government bodies, including the Department of Environment.
Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan said further action would be taken after reviewing documents.
Additional Superintendent of Police Nasrin Akhter, Assistant Commissioner Selim Reza, and Officer-in-Charge Sohel Rana of Sadar Police Station were present during the drive.