Businessman hid 10,000 liters of diesel underground

In Singra, Natore, authorities discovered approximately 10,000 liters of diesel illegally stored underground in a water tank hidden within a bamboo thicket at Bhatopara Mohalla in Ningain. 

The stash was uncovered on Saturday afternoon following a secret tip-off.

Executive Magistrate and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Abdullah Al Rifat led a mobile court raid at the site, located about three kilometers from the Thana Mor area of the municipal town. 

Upon confirming the presence of the diesel concealed in the buried tank, the court imposed a Tk 5,000 fine on fuel oil trader Rubel Hossain (34). 

The magistrate also directed the businessman to transfer the stored oil to his authorised shop premises within two days.

The action was taken for violating proper fuel oil storage regulations, as the diesel had been hidden by digging into an open area and placing it in water tanks, in clear breach of the law.

On the same day, District Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan Dipu separately fined three other traders a total of Tk 8,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act for violations detected at Sherkol and Hatiandah markets in the upazila.

UNO Abdullah Al Rifat explained that the mobile court operation in Ningain was launched after intelligence indicated illegal oil hoarding. 

He emphasised that the monitoring drive also included warnings issued to four oil pumps and retail fuel sellers across the upazila to ensure compliance with storage and sales regulations.