Two traders were jailed and fined in Chandpur for illegally hoarding and selling fuel, while another trader was fined in Faridgonj for selling fuel at higher-than-approved prices, officials said on Monday.

The drive, conducted around 4:30pm under the initiative of the district administration, was led by Executive Magistrate Tanvir Rabbi from the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

During the drive, authorities detained Mizanur Rahman, owner of Messrs Naurin Filling Station on Stadium Road in Chandpur Sadar, and Md Monjur Hossain Talukdar, owner of Imran Traders and an agent of Padma Oil Company in Alimpur.

They were later sentenced to one year’s simple imprisonment each and fined Tk 5,000 under Section 45 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act for illegal hoarding and sale of fuel.

According to the district administration, such drives will continue to prevent illegal stockpiling and black marketing of fuel. Surveillance has also been strengthened in markets across the town.

Meanwhile, in Faridgonj, a mobile court fined a trader Tk 10,000 for selling octane, petrol and diesel at excessive prices in the open market.

The drive was carried out at a shop near Kerowa Bridge in Faridgonj Bazar following allegations that fuel was being sold at inflated prices taking advantage of shortages at filling stations.

Acting on the allegations, a mobile court team led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) A R M Zahid Hasan, along with police, conducted the drive and found the accusation to be true.

Authorities said although Chandpur district has around 15 licensed filling stations across its eight upazilas, motorists are facing long queues amid an apparent supply crisis.

Several pumps have already suspended sales of octane and petrol, displaying notices, while some stations are limiting sales to around Tk 200 worth of fuel per motorcycle, causing long waiting times for riders.

Visits to multiple filling stations over the past two days showed petrol and octane sales remain suspended in several outlets, including Sharmin Filling Station near the district council office.

At Amir Hossain and Company Filling Station, supply to motorcycles was found to be nearly halted, with rationing limiting sales to just 2 litres per bike.

Manager Kamal Hossain said fuel is being sold under a rationing system due to a shortage.

However, Lokman Hossain, depot in-charge of Padma Oil Company under the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, dismissed claims of any fuel shortage, saying there is no deficit at depots or elsewhere.

He urged the authorities to take swift action against those creating an artificial crisis.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Ershad Uddin said there are three fuel depots in Chandpur — Padma, Meghna and Jamuna — which supply fuel not only to the district but also to four neighbouring districts.

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“We have appointed tag officers at every filling station and are monitoring the situation. Mobile courts are also being conducted when necessary,” he said, warning of strict legal action against any station found hoarding or rationing fuel without justification.

Superintendent of Police Robiul Hasan urged people to provide information on illegal fuel hoarding or overpricing, assuring that informants’ identities would be kept confidential.