Fuel Hoarding Ring Busted in Rajshahi

A covert operation conducted by the National Security Intelligence (NSI) in Rajshahi has led to the arrest of a man accused of illegally stockpiling fuel and selling it at inflated prices through a coordinated scheme involving fuel station employees.

The accused, identified as Rakib Hasan, a resident of the Hossainiganj Betpotti area in the city, was allegedly collecting excess petrol and octane with the help of staff at filling stations. He would then store the fuel in the basement of a residential building and resell it to motorcyclists at significantly higher prices, exploiting local demand and shortages.

According to officials, NSI operatives had been monitoring his activities for several days prior to the arrest. On Thursday night at around 9:30 pm, an undercover NSI member posed as a buyer and successfully engaged Rakib in a transaction. He was apprehended red-handed during the exchange at a building in the Alupotti area of Rajshahi metropolitan city.

Following the arrest, a mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner Arif Hossain of the Boalia Land Office conducted proceedings on the spot. Rakib Hasan was fined BDT 5,000 for his involvement in the illegal fuel trade. Authorities also confiscated approximately 40 litres of petrol from the premises.

Officials confirmed that the seized fuel was later sold at the prevailing market rate, and both the fine and proceeds from the sale will be deposited into the state treasury on Sunday.

Investigators further suspect that the scale of the operation may have been much larger than initially observed. Based on containers and bottles found in the basement storage area, NSI officials estimate that nearly 500 litres of fuel may have been illegally distributed over a period of time.

Authorities have stated that surveillance and enforcement actions against fuel hoarding and black-market distribution will continue in order to prevent artificial shortages and price manipulation in the local market.

Case Summary