Authorities fined several businesses a total of Tk 200,000 in separate drives in Chuadanga and Natore on Monday for irregularities, including selling expired seeds, unauthorised fertiliser, fuel measurement fraud and illegal storage of petroleum products.
A mobile court led by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection fined three businesses a total of Tk 100,000 for various irregularities in Chuadanga Sadar Upazila.
The drive was conducted from Monday morning to noon in the Bhalaipur More and Daulatdiar areas, targeting markets dealing in daily essentials such as fuel oil, medicines, fertiliser and seeds.
During the operation, M/s Kuddus Seed Warehouse and Pesticides in Bhalaipur Bazar was fined Tk 10,000 under Section 51 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009 for storing and selling expired seeds.
In the same area, M/s New Tushar Traders was fined Tk 30,000 under Section 45 of the Act for selling fertiliser without proper authorisation and failing to maintain sales records.
Meanwhile, M/s Rahman Automobile in Daulatdiar was fined Tk 60,000 for manipulating fuel measurements.
Authorities found that customers were receiving 300 millilitres less per five litres of oil, along with evidence of tampered measuring devices.
Following the drive, traders were instructed to display updated price lists, maintain proper documentation, sell products at fair prices, and avoid selling expired or substandard goods, including medicines, seeds and baby food.
The operation was led by Assistant Director Mohammad Mamunul Hasan of the Chuadanga District Office. He was assisted by Field Officer Salma Jahan Nipa of the District Seed Certification Office, CAB representative Md Rafiqul Islam, and members of the Chuadanga District Ansar Battalion.
In a separate incident in Natore, a businessman was fined Tk 100,000 for illegally storing fuel oil in Singra upazila.
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Upazila Executive Officer Abdullah Al Rifat conducted a drive in Raninagar village on Monday afternoon.
During the drive, 65 barrels of diesel and petrol were seized from a warehouse owned by oil trader Altaf Hossain. He was fined Tk 100,000 for the offence.
The court later ordered the immediate sale of the seized fuel in the open market at a fair price upon bond.