Drivers of hundreds of vehicles are allegedly selling large quantities of fuel oil to a syndicate every day on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Parihalpara area of Cumilla.
The trade of stolen oil, led by the head of the syndicate Ronnie is being run at two separate rented shops on the Dhaka-bound section of the highway. Sources fear that these stolen fuels sold in the open market in different parts of the district could be used in subversive activities including accidents.
Parihalpara village under Mokam union is located in Burichang upazila of Cumilla. This syndicate is buying stolen oil from hundreds of vehicles sitting inside two tin-shade houses on the Dhaka-bound section of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway four-lane.
According to a local source who did not want to be named, Ronnie, the leader of this gang is the son of Alam Miah of Changao village under Kalibazar union of Cumilla Adarsha sadar upazila. About 7/8 years ago he started his business at Parihalpara in Burichang, on the Dhaka-bound part of the highway and later continued trading in stolen oil by renting another shop at a short distance as his scope of business extended.
Hundreds of drivers of vehicles owned by private, government, semi-government, various companies or corporations are coming here every day to sell fuel oil from cars for extra income, said a local resident.
According to sources, even though the owners buy a liter of diesel from the petrol pump at Tk 65.12, the drivers are selling it at Tk 30/35 per liter. Sources, who did not want to be named, said the two shops are open 24 hours a day to buy stolen fuel. A minimum of 10 liters and a maximum of 15/20 liter of oil is being sold every day by drivers.
Thus, the gang is buying one and a half to two thousand liters of diesel every day. Later, the transported oil through pick-up is being sold in the open market at different places including Cumilla, Chandina, Debidwar, Barura and Burichang at relatively profitable prices. It has been seen that in addition to public or privately owned vehicles, drivers from various corporate companies including Fresh, Bashundhara, Crown, Royal Cement, Hydraulic Mixture Machine and Igloo are rushing there to sell fuel.
A source in charge of the district administration said on condition of anonymity that there is no opportunity to buy or sell fuel oil in the open market. The sale of fuel oil requires permission from the Department of Explosives.
Many locals, on condition of anonymity said that despite the trade of stolen oil from hundreds of vehicles every day, law enforcement agencies have been silent for unknown reasons.
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Burichang police station Mozammel Haque PPM said, he was not aware of the matter. He came to know about the matter through this reporter. He will take immediate action as soon as possible.