The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified security measures in Rajshahi following concerns over the potential smuggling and stockpiling of fuel oil along the frontier, driven by price differentials with neighbouring countries.
Authorities have deployed three platoons of BGB personnel at the Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil depots in Rajshahi since 25 March in a bid to prevent illicit stockpiling and cross-border fuel smuggling activities.
Speaking at a press briefing held on Sunday morning in front of the Jamuna Oil Depot at Shirol Colony, adjacent to Rajshahi Railway Station, Lieutenant Colonel Riaz Shahriar, Commander of the Rajshahi Battalion (1 BGB), outlined the security strategy.
He noted that fuel prices in Bangladesh remain lower than in adjacent countries due to government subsidies, creating a financial incentive for smuggling networks operating along the border. “This price gap naturally generates risk, which organised groups attempt to exploit,” he said.
According to him, the BGB is maintaining strict surveillance within an eight-kilometre radius of the international border in Rajshahi, while other law enforcement agencies are operating beyond that zone to ensure layered security coverage.
Fuel Distribution and Surveillance Framework
Lieutenant Colonel Shahriar also provided an overview of the fuel distribution system in the district. He explained that three major depots supply petroleum products to 64 filling stations across Rajshahi. Of these, 12 stations are located within the sensitive eight-kilometre border zone, requiring enhanced monitoring to ensure uninterrupted yet secure fuel distribution.
He further stated that border outposts (BOPs) have been placed on high alert, with intensified patrols conducted across riverine and land routes to prevent transportation of fuel in barrels or jerry cans for illicit purposes. Special inspections are also being carried out at International Checkpoint (ICT) points, where tanker loads are verified to ensure declared quantities match actual transport volumes.
Operational Statistics
BGB officials reported a sustained campaign of surveillance and enforcement activities across the region. These operations include mobile checkpoints, targeted patrols, and coordinated inspections aimed at disrupting smuggling networks.
| Security Activity | Recorded Operations |
|---|---|
| Special patrols | 192 |
| Mobile checkpoints | 228 |
| Vehicle inspections (approx.) | 2,500 |
| Speedboat river patrols | 48 |
| Border Outposts involved | 16 |
According to the BGB, these coordinated efforts are part of an ongoing strategy to reinforce border integrity and prevent the diversion of subsidised fuel into illegal cross-border trade channels.
Lieutenant Colonel Shahriar reaffirmed that surveillance operations will continue to be strengthened in response to evolving threats. “We are committed to maintaining strict control over fuel movement and ensuring that national resources are protected from illegal exploitation,” he added.
Officials present at the briefing emphasised that inter-agency coordination has been further enhanced to ensure effective monitoring and rapid response capabilities across both land and riverine border routes.