Mobile courts in Gazipur have fined a total of Tk 6 lakh last night for hoarding LPG cylinders and sales at prices above government-fixed rates.

During the drive conducted by Gazipur Rice Research Army Camp, authorities found evidence of multiple irregularities, including the stockpiling of about 3,000 gas cylinders, at Janani Enterprise on Niyamat Road. A mobile court led by the Gazipur district administration fined it Tk 50,000.

In a separate drive in Deshipara area, Khwaja Garib-e-Nawaz Steel Bitan, was found to have hoarded around 15,000 gas cylinders. The mobile court imposed a fine of Tk 4 lakh in this case.

Executive Magistrate Abu Bakkar Siddique of the Gazipur district administration said such raids were being conducted to safeguard consumer rights and ensure public safety, adding that the drives would continue.

On the same day, in a separate drive in Kaliganj upazila, a trader was fined Tk 1.5 lakh for stockpiling a large number of gas cylinders without a licence and for allegedly creating an artificial shortage in the market.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Zakia Sarwar Lima said the accused, Nipu D’Costa, failed to produce a valid licence for selling gas cylinders during questioning and could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the stockpiling.

He was subsequently fined Tk 1.5 lakh under Section 6(1) of the Essential Commodities Control Act, 1956.