Authorities have seized nearly 47,000 litres of diesel and arrested 13 people in coordinated operations across six districts, as Bangladesh tightens enforcement against fuel hoarding and smuggling amid a global energy crunch.

The largest single seizure occurred in Barguna, where the National Security Intelligence (NSI) raided a godown in Patharghata and recovered 38,000 litres of diesel stored in 193 barrels. Officials fined the warehouse owner, Abdullah, BDT 50,000. Authorities then sold the seized fuel to fishermen at government-set prices. Patharghata’s executive officer, Tapas Pal, said no irregularities would be tolerated and warned against stockpiling or selling above official rates.

In Chattogram, the Coast Guard intercepted a suspicious boat in the Patenga offshore area, seizing about 6,000 litres of diesel, six gas-filled cylinders and BDT 15,896 in cash. Officers arrested 12 suspected smugglers, including eight Rohingya nationals and four Bangladeshis. Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, Coast Guard media officer, said operations against fuel trafficking would continue.

Moulvibazar’s mobile court confiscated 1,600 litres of diesel from Hiron Enterprise in Kamalganj upazila on Friday night. The business had been illegally stockpiling fuel for an extended period, according to local officials. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Asaduzzaman led the raid.

Barisal authorities seized 800 litres of diesel and one tonne of government rice from the home of a union parishad member in Muladi. The official’s brother, Bachchu Alam, received a BDT 5,000 fine. The rice seizure remains under investigation.

Police in Chandpur’s Matlab South arrested a shopkeeper, Md Hasan, and confiscated 350 litres of diesel from his store in a late-Friday raid based on a tip-off.

In Panchagarh’s Tentulia border area, the Border Guard Bangladesh recovered two jerrycans of diesel left unattended, with a seized value of BDT 4,120.