ILLEGAL IMPORT

Tk 4.55cr diesel seized in N’ganj

An illegal consignment of seven lakh litres of diesel worth around Tk 4.55 crore has been seized at Pagla in Narayanganj, government officials said. Members of Bangladesh Cost Guard on Wednesday seized the diesel from O T Hilton vessel, which was carrying fake documents prepared in favour of state-owned Standard Asiatic Oil Company Limited and private Madina Trading.

“When we seized the vessel, the crew showed us some documents saying they are carrying six lakh litres of diesel of Standard Asiatic Oil and one lakh litres of diesel of Madina Trading. But the shipping documents turned out to be fake,” said Lieutenant Enayet, who is in charge of Narayanganj office Cost Guard.  

On suspicion the documents were sent to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), which confirmed the papers were fake, added the Cost Guard official. Sources with government offices said consignments of petroleum fuels such as diesel are imported illegally and unloaded at the outrage of Chittagong Port through tax evasion. Low prices of petroleum products in international markets encourage a section traders to import the products illegally.  

Earlier on 08 August Bangladesh Navy seized a vessel named “Khoer Khiji” with illegal diesel. The amount of illegal consignment was not announced so far. On 22 July a high-level team of BPC found evidence that some gangs were involved in this illicit trade at the Chandpur depot of Jamuna Oil. The BPC team found that at the Chandpur depot of Jamuna Oil, 9 lakh litres of diesel were sold for Tk 5.76 crore to different petrol pumps over the past few months.

Sources said there are syndicates who are importing refined fuel from international market and sale it at the outrage of Chittagong Port. “We suspect that some people are importing diesel and selling from the ships in Bay of Bengal at cheaper prices which is totally illegal. As per the law no one is permitted to import for commercial purposes except BPC. On the other hand the government is losing taxes. So, we should take strong steps to control the illegal trade,” said BPC director Mir Ali Reza.

At the local market, one litre of diesel is selling at Tk 65 whereas in the international market price ranges between 40 and 45 in Bangladeshi currency.

Sources said some power generating companies are permitted to import furnace oil for their plants that is not checked properly. The companies could import the refined oil for commercial purposes, suspected the sources.

ILLEGAL IMPORT

Tk 4.55cr diesel seized in Nganj

An illegal consignment of seven lakh litres of diesel worth around Tk 4.55 crore has been seized at Pagla in Narayanganj, government officials said. Members of Bangladesh Cost Guard on Wednesday seized the diesel from O T Hilton vessel, which was carrying fake documents prepared in favour of state-owned Standard Asiatic Oil Company Limited and private Madina Trading. When we seized the vessel, the crew showed us some documents saying they are carrying six lakh litres of diesel of Standard Asiatic Oil and one lakh litres of diesel of Madina Trading. But the shipping documents turned out to be fake, said Lieutenant Enayet, who is in charge of Narayanganj office Cost Guard. On suspicion the documents were sent to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), which confirmed the papers were fake, added the Cost Guard official. Sources with government offices said consignments of petroleum fuels such as diesel are imported illegally and unloaded at the outrage of Chittagong Port through tax evasion. Low prices of petroleum products in international markets encourage a section traders to import the products illegally. Earlier on 08 August Bangladesh Navy seized a vessel named Khoer Khiji with illegal diesel. The amount of illegal consignment was not announced so far. On 22 July a high-level team of BPC found evidence that some gangs were involved in this illicit trade at the Chandpur depot of Jamuna Oil. The BPC team found that at the Chandpur depot of Jamuna Oil, 9 lakh litres of diesel were sold for Tk 5.76 crore to different petrol pumps over the past few months. Sources said there are syndicates who are importing refined fuel from international market and sale it at the outrage of Chittagong Port. We suspect that some people are importing diesel and selling from the ships in Bay of Bengal at cheaper prices which is totally illegal. As per the law no one is permitted to import for commercial purposes except BPC. On the other hand the government is losing taxes. So, we should take strong steps to control the illegal trade, said BPC director Mir Ali Reza. At the local market, one litre of diesel is selling at Tk 65 whereas in the international market price ranges between 40 and 45 in Bangladeshi currency. Sources said some power generating companies are permitted to import furnace oil for their plants that is not checked properly. The companies could import the refined oil for commercial purposes, suspected the sources.