Govt providing Tk 2,500 crore monthly fuel subsidy: ministry

The government is providing a monthly subsidy amounting to Taka 2,500 crore to the fuel sector due to the global war situation, said Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury, spokesperson of the Energy Ministry, on Thursday.

The government is providing this subsidy to maintain smooth fuel supply, considering the suffering of the citizens of Bangladesh, he told a press conference at the ministry conference room at the Secretariat.

He said many people in different areas are trying to illegally hoard fuel for extra profit, so the ministry continues its drives against the hoarders.

The ministry spokesperson said that since the Iran-Israel war started on February 28, the government has been trying to inform the country’s people about the status of fuel reserves.

He said the government has sufficient fuel reserves, so there is no need for additional stockpiling or panic.

He said that till yesterday, 361 raids were conducted against illegal fuel hoarders in different parts of the country, and a fine of over Taka 5 lakh was imposed, while two persons were sentenced to imprisonment.

Monir Hossain said 7,342 raids have been conducted so far, while 31 cases have been filed. A total fine of Taka 1.43 crore has been imposed, and 36 people have been sentenced to imprisonment, he said.

During the drives, he said, so far 3,05,247 liters of diesel, 36,621 liters of octane, and 80,374 liters of petrol have been recovered.

He said a total of 4,69,042 liters of illegally stored fuel have been recovered so far.