Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has strengthened patrol and search operations along Jashore border to prevent illegal movement of fuel, as concerns have emerged over a possible fuel crisis due to the Middle East conflict.
According to a press release issued by the 49 BGB Battalion this afternoon, special surveillance has been launched in areas under the jurisdiction of the Jashore Battalion following directives from the BGB headquarters.
As part of the measures, additional BGB personnel have been deployed at several border points, including the Benapole land port and border areas of Sharsha and Chougacha upazilas.
Temporary checkpoints have been set up at several important points, where vehicles are being searched, said the release.
Lt Col Saifullah Siddiqui, commanding officer of 49 BGB Battalion in Jashore, said manpower has been increased in border areas and special patrols and intelligence activities have been intensified.
“We are maintaining strict surveillance on suspicious transportation and movement to ensure that fuel cannot be smuggled across the border under any circumstances,” he said.
Lt Col Siddiqui also said that BGB members are on maximum alert to protect the country’s fuel resources, and strict legal action will be taken against those involved in smuggling.
Extra vigilance is being maintained at routes where attempts to smuggle diesel and petrol were reported in the past, he said, adding that strict inspections are also being conducted on Bangladeshi and Indian goods-laden trucks entering India through the Benapole land port gate.
BGB sources said amid fears of a potential fuel crisis due to the Middle East conflict, motorcyclists in Jashore have rushed to petrol pumps to buy fuel.
Most bikers are demanding more fuel than necessary, leading to long queues at filling stations. As a result, several pumps have already run out of stock and have been temporarily shut down. While octane is still available at a few stations, petrol has reportedly become scarce, they said.
Pump operators said that although fuel stocks were expected to last until Sunday, the sudden surge in demand from bikers may exhaust supplies much earlier.
