Smuggling attempt, 9,000-litre jet fuel seized
Two detained with tanker truck; four Padma Oil officials suspended, probe committee formed
ATT Correspondent 
As many as 9,000 litres of jet fuel belonging to Padma Oil Company was seized during an alleged smuggling attempt in Chattogram, triggering concern in the country’s petroleum sector.
Bangladesh Coast Guard conducted two separate operations in Patenga and seized huge amount of jet fuel, diesel, octane, and edible oil, reports state news agency BSS.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan, the Coast Guard Media Officer, confirmed the operations on Tuesday afternoon. The Coast Guard is actively working to prevent smuggling and illegal stockpiling of fuel in coastal areas.
Law enforcement officials detained two people along with a tanker truck on Monday night while they were allegedly attempting to sell the fuel in the Sagorika area after taking it out of Padma Oil’s aviation depot in Patenga.
Following the incident, four people — including the depot manager, a duty officer, the tanker driver and his assistant — were suspended, reports popular Chattogram daily Azadi.
The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has also formed a five-member investigation committee to probe the incident.
According to sources, the tanker truck carrying the jet fuel, bearing registration number Chattogram Metro-M-09-0010, left the aviation depot in Patenga at around 8:00pm on Monday.
Officials from a government intelligence agency intercepted the vehicle in the Sagorika area while it was allegedly being taken for illegal sale.
During questioning, the detained individuals reportedly failed to provide satisfactory documents or explanations regarding the fuel shipment, valued at around Tk 19.35 lakh.
Law enforcement agencies later contacted senior officials of Padma Oil Company, including its managing director, and confirmed that the fuel had been unlawfully removed from the depot.
An investigation-related source said the smuggling took place during the shift transition between day and night duty staff at the depot.
According to investigators, an organised group involving personnel from the security and fuel-loading sections may have been involved in the operation.
The intelligence agency is also investigating whether the group had previously smuggled fuel out of the depot using similar methods.
The incident has caused widespread concern within the country’s fuel and energy sector.
Padma Oil Company later suspended the depot manager, duty officer, tanker driver and his assistant. The suspension orders were issued by the company’s General Manager for Human Resources and Administration, Mir Mohammad Fakhruddin.
Meanwhile, the Energy and Mineral Resources Division formed a five-member investigation committee headed by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Director (Planning) and Joint Secretary Muhammad Asadul Haque.
Other members of the committee include BPC General Manager Ferdousi Masum Himel, Padma Oil Deputy General Manager (Engineering and Planning) Mostak Ahmed Chowdhury, BPC Deputy General Manager (Distribution and Marketing) Khandaker Sajbir Rahman, and Senior Assistant Secretary of the ministry Milton Roy.
The committee has been asked to submit a detailed report within three days after examining the tanker’s route, destination, shipment documents and identifying those involved in the incident.
