Govt depots involved in ‘illegal trade of petroleum products’

Some of the government’s oil depots are being used for the illegal trade in petroleum products, a probe has revealed.

A high-level team of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has found evidence that a syndicate was involved in this illicit trade at the Chandpur depot of Jamuna Oil at various levels. The team found that at the Chandpur depot of Jamuna Oil, 9 lakh litres of diesel were sold for Tk. 5 crore 76 lakh to different petrol pumps over the past few months. The fuel was supplied or ‘managed’ from the stocks at the depot from outside by the powerful syndicate. The BPC has filed a case with the local police station in this connection, with the police arresting five depot staffers, including the superintendent of the depot, Khademul. Sources said BPC officials were investigating similar allegations at some other depots of the company.  “We have confiscated 9 lakh litres of diesel from the Chandpur depot that have been sold illegally, without any legal documents,” disclosed BPC director Mir Ali Reza to The Independent yesterday. “We suspect the depot officials collected the fuel from illegal sources and were trying to sell it legally by using the depot meter, which they can change as they like,” he added.

The BPC’s team, lead by Reza, found very interesting information at the depot. “We are investigating the issue, but it’s not clear as to how the diesel was being stocked at the depot. However, we’ve got evidence that the meter reader of the depot is involved as they have changed the meter,” he disclosed.

The team has recorded the confessions of the immediate past depot superintendent Khademul and two other staffers. They informed the team that the depot was being used for making illegal oil stocks and sales. According to their statement, an officer is the team leader of the syndicate, which includes the staff of three petrol pumps. Not only that, some Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) vessels are also in cahoots with the syndicate, having carried many consignments for some depots.

Sources in the oil sector told this correspondent that the Jamuna depot official was not only involved in the illegal oil trade, but also in collecting condensate from a syndicate and mixing it with the petroleum products at the depot.

“It is unbelievable. A high-ranking official of Jamuna Petroleum Limited is the most corrupt and involved in all kind of irregularities. Not only that, he has been able to ‘manage’ some Energy Division officials to continue with his nefarious activities,” said an oil sector official.

“We are surprised that a strong and powerful syndicate is involved in the illegal oil trade at the Chandpur depot. We suspect the diesel could have been brought to the depot from any power plant or some other source, though we are not sure about the sources. That indeed is the subject of the investigation,” explained Reza.

Under government laws, no one except the BPC can distribute any kind of petroleum products.

 

 

Govt depots involved in illegal trade of petroleum products

Some of the governments oil depots are being used for the illegal trade in petroleum products, a probe has revealed. A high-level team of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has found evidence that a syndicate was involved in this illicit trade at the Chandpur depot of Jamuna Oil at various levels. The team found that at the Chandpur depot of Jamuna Oil, 9 lakh litres of diesel were sold for Tk. 5 crore 76 lakh to different petrol pumps over the past few months. The fuel was supplied or managed from the stocks at the depot from outside by the powerful syndicate. The BPC has filed a case with the local police station in this connection, with the police arresting five depot staffers, including the superintendent of the depot, Khademul. Sources said BPC officials were investigating similar allegations at some other depots of the company. We have confiscated 9 lakh litres of diesel from the Chandpur depot that have been sold illegally, without any legal documents, disclosed BPC director Mir Ali Reza to The Independent yesterday. We suspect the depot officials collected the fuel from illegal sources and were trying to sell it legally by using the depot meter, which they can change as they like, he added. The BPCs team, lead by Reza, found very interesting information at the depot. We are investigating the issue, but its not clear as to how the diesel was being stocked at the depot. However, weve got evidence that the meter reader of the depot is involved as they have changed the meter, he disclosed. The team has recorded the confessions of the immediate past depot superintendent Khademul and two other staffers. They informed the team that the depot was being used for making illegal oil stocks and sales. According to their statement, an officer is the team leader of the syndicate, which includes the staff of three petrol pumps. Not only that, some Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) vessels are also in cahoots with the syndicate, having carried many consignments for some depots. Sources in the oil sector told this correspondent that the Jamuna depot official was not only involved in the illegal oil trade, but also in collecting condensate from a syndicate and mixing it with the petroleum products at the depot. It is unbelievable. A high-ranking official of Jamuna Petroleum Limited is the most corrupt and involved in all kind of irregularities. Not only that, he has been able to manage some Energy Division officials to continue with his nefarious activities, said an oil sector official. We are surprised that a strong and powerful syndicate is involved in the illegal oil trade at the Chandpur depot. We suspect the diesel could have been brought to the depot from any power plant or some other source, though we are not sure about the sources. That indeed is the subject of the investigation, explained Reza. Under government laws, no one except the BPC can distribute any kind of petroleum products.