Two Satkhira Filling Stations Fined for Overcharging

In response to reports of illegal price hikes on existing fuel reserves, the Satkhira district administration conducted mobile court operations on Sunday, resulting in financial penalties for two prominent filling stations. The authorities intervened after several establishments began selling fuel at newly adjusted government rates despite holding significant stock purchased at previous, lower prices.

Administrative Action and Penalties

The mobile court, led by the district administration, targeted fuel stations within Satkhira city following allegations of non-compliance with executive orders. Between 11:30 am and 12:00 pm, separate raids were conducted to verify pricing structures.

• A.B. Khan Filling Station: Fined 20,000 BDT for selling stored fuel at inflated rates.

• Lashkar Filling Station: Fined 10,000 BDT for similar violations.

Shahed Hossain, Assistant Commissioner of the district administration, confirmed the penalties, stating that the stations were cautioned against further malpractice. He emphasized that these enforcement drives are part of a broader district-wide initiative to ensure fair market practices following the government’s latest fuel price adjustments.

Fuel Stock and Regulatory Directives

The core of the dispute involves the “old stock” vs “new price” protocol. Following the central government’s announcement regarding fuel price increases, Satkhira District Collector (DC) Afroza Akhtar issued a clear directive to all fuel dealers. The order mandated that any fuel already in stock must be sold at the prior, lower rate. The new, higher prices were only to be applied once fresh supplies were procured from depots at the revised costs.

According to the daily fuel report released by the District Collector’s office, the fuel reserves across the 29 filling stations in the district as of Sunday morning were substantial.

Fuel Inventory in Satkhira District (29 Stations)

Market Disruption and Enforcement

The district administration had deployed “Tag Officers” to various filling stations to monitor stock levels and prevent price gouging. Despite these measures, many station owners attempted to implement the higher rates immediately on Sunday morning.

When Tag Officers intervened to prevent the overcharging, several owners chose to suspend operations entirely, halting fuel sales for approximately one hour. Once sales resumed, many continued to demand the higher price, prompting the mobile court’s swift intervention.

The administration has reiterated that monitoring will remain stringent. Authorities aim to prevent the artificial inflation of costs for consumers by ensuring that the transition to new pricing strictly follows the depletion of old stock. The district administration has signaled that more raids are expected if filling stations continue to bypass official directives.