Govt orders mobile courts to check fuel hoarding, price gouging and smuggling

The government has ordered the deployment of mobile courts across the country to prevent illegal hoarding, overpricing, and smuggling of fuel amid supply concerns triggered by the Middle East conflict.

The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources on Sunday wrote to the Cabinet Division, asking for instructions to be issued to district administrators (DCs) to initiate field-level monitoring.

The move follows media reports of unscrupulous traders creating an “artificial crisis by stockpiling fuel”.

While the government has already set per-vehicle sale limits to manage reserves, authorities have noted several filling stations selling fuel above regulated prices or diverting supplies to the black market.

Senior Assistant Secretary Enamul Hoque signed the letter, emphasising that these measures are essential to ensure an uninterrupted energy supply.

Following the directive, executive magistrates have already begun conducting drives at different petrol pumps in the capital.

Officials conducted inspections in Tejgaon and Mohakhali on Sunday.

Clean Fuel Filling Station in Tejgaon and Eureka Filling Station in Mohakhali were operating normally and complying with government regulations, the ministry said.

City Filling Station, RS Enterprise, Royal Filling Station, and Tashofa Filling Station were temporarily closed after running out of fuel, it added.

At Shohag Filling Station in Mohakhali, officials found 3,500 litres of octane stored and ordered sales to resume after verification, though the station had not displayed the mandatory BPC price notice, the ministry said.