A mobile court has detained the manager of a petrol station in Gouripur upazila of Mymensingh after allegations emerged that nearly 50,000 litres of petrol went unaccounted for at a filling station owned by a local political figure.
The incident centres on a fuel outlet reportedly owned by Hafez Azizul Haque, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader. Authorities say the discrepancy was uncovered during a district administration drive conducted on Tuesday (7 April), raising serious questions about stock management and record-keeping at the facility.
The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Nurul Huda Monir of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, who headed the mobile court team.
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Key findings of the investigation
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Gouripur Upazila, Mymensingh |
| Facility | Fuel filling station owned by Hafez Azizul Haque |
| Allegation | Approximately 50,000 litres of petrol unaccounted for |
| Total recorded stock | 58,500 litres (declared deliveries) |
| Action taken | Station manager arrested |
| Legal basis | Special Powers Act, 1974 |
| Arrested individual | Md Jalil Hossain Rifat (30) |
| Authority involved | District Administration Mobile Court |
How the discrepancy was uncovered
According to official sources, the investigation was triggered following confidential information suggesting irregularities in fuel stock at the station. Acting on the tip-off, the mobile court conducted a surprise inspection and reviewed delivery records and stock documentation.
The inquiry revealed that between 1 and 4 April, a total of 40,500 litres of petrol had been delivered from the Bhairab Bazar depot in Kishoreganj. This was followed by an additional delivery of 18,000 litres on 6 and 7 April, bringing the documented total to 58,500 litres.
However, when officials conducted a physical verification of stock, a significant portion of the fuel could not be accounted for. The station had reportedly displayed a sign stating “no fuel available”, further deepening suspicions regarding inventory discrepancies.
Manager detained after failing to explain shortage
During questioning by the mobile court, the station manager, Md Jalil Hossain Rifat, reportedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the missing fuel. Officials stated that his responses did not align with the recorded delivery and stock documents.
Following the inspection, he was detained on the spot and subsequently handed over to Gouripur Police Station. Authorities later confirmed that he had been shown arrested in connection with a case filed under the Special Powers Act of 1974.
The case was lodged later on Tuesday night by certificate assistant Afsarul Islam of the Deputy Commissioner’s office.
Legal proceedings initiated
Police officials confirmed that the arrested manager is expected to be produced before a court on Wednesday as part of ongoing legal proceedings. Investigators are now expected to examine whether the missing fuel resulted from misappropriation, accounting manipulation, or operational failures.
Owner disputes allegations
In response to the allegations, the station’s owner, Hafez Azizul Haque, rejected claims of wrongdoing, insisting that all fuel delivered to the station had been sold through regular operations.
He argued that there was no irregularity or illicit intent behind the stock records and described the mobile court’s actions as based on “misleading information”. He further maintained that daily sales accounted for the entire quantity of fuel supplied during the relevant period.
Wider concerns over fuel monitoring
The incident has drawn attention to broader concerns regarding fuel distribution oversight and inventory tracking at retail stations. Authorities have increasingly relied on mobile court operations in recent years to detect discrepancies in fuel storage, pricing, and distribution.
Officials say further investigation will determine whether the missing quantity represents administrative error, procedural lapses, or deliberate misappropriation.
As the case proceeds, scrutiny is expected to intensify around fuel accountability systems, particularly at privately operated stations handling large daily volumes of petroleum products.