Trader fined for storing oil in Kurigram

A mobile court has fined an oil trader Tk 5,000 on charges of storing fuel and keeping his shop closed in Kurigram’s Fulbari upazila on Sunday.

According to sources, a team of officials led by assistant commissioner (land) Anwar Hossain conducted a drive at Balarhat Bazar under Naodanga union and imposed a fine of Tk 5000 on Rashidul Islam for storing diesel and petrol.

The trader, however, denied the allegation of stockpiling fuel. He said he had gone to neighbouring Lalmonirhat district in the morning to see a doctor, as he was ill.

“I rushed back and showed my medical reports, but I was still fined Tk 5,000. I had to borrow money from others to pay the fine,” he said.

Confirming the incident, magistrate Anwar Hossain said that the trader had been instructed to sell the stored fuel within the next two days, and the responsibility of monitoring the matter had been assigned to the local Union Parishad chairman.

“During the inspection, we found 11,932.5 litres of oil stored at the shop. He also could not produce a purchase register. Considering the circumstances and the fact that he claimed to be ill, he was fined Tk 5,000,” added the magistrate.

ACR/AM