PABNA, Mar 14, (V7N) – The Pabna District Consumer Rights Protection Department on Saturday seized 1,500 liters of petrol and octane illegally stored inside the cowshed of a house in Chinakhara Bazar, Sujanagar upazila.

The raid was conducted at the home of Santu Islam, owner of Khan Enterprise, after officials received information that an unscrupulous group was attempting to exploit the Middle East war situation by creating an artificial fuel crisis and charging excessive prices.

Officials said Santu Islam shut down his shop and tried to flee upon sensing the presence of the inspection team. Acting on information from locals, the team searched his house behind the shop and discovered the fuel stockpile hidden inside the barn.

Mahmud Hasan Rony, Assistant Director of the Consumer Rights Protection Department, said the seized fuel was immediately sold to the public at government‑fixed prices. The businessman was fined Tk 25,000 for illegal stockpiling.

Rony added that separate raids were carried out in four markets, including Ataikula and Chinakhara, where six businesses were fined Tk 90,000 for selling fuel at inflated prices.

END/SRP/RH