Combat Theft and Smuggling of Fuel Oil

WE are deeply disturbed by the reports appearing in newspapers over the past few days regarding the theft and smuggling of government-owned condensed fuel oil, essentially crude fuel, from the Meghna River, near Bhairab in Kishoreganj and Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria.

The matter is as distressing as it is alarming.

An organized gang has been consistently carrying out this illicit activity, both while oil is being loaded onto vessels via pipeline from the Ashuganj facility of the Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited (RPGCL), a subsidiary of Petrobangla, and while the vessels are stationed in the river.

In the dead of night, drums filled with crude oil are being collected from ships’ hose pipes and pipelines using steel boats and subsequently unloaded at various wharves in Bhairab Bazar.

Approximately 60,000 liters of condensate are being smuggled in this manner every month.

This illicit trade deprives the state of a vast amount of revenue each month, causing harm to the national economy.

However, the problem runs deep.

This illegal trade allegedly continues unchecked because local river police, the administration, political figures, and certain unscrupulous individuals receive regular payoffs.

It is disheartening to see some of the concerned officials attempting to evade responsibility.

There is no scope to deny such theft and trafficking by citing the excuse of a digitally controlled system.

Recently, a fuel crisis emerged in the country due to the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Incidents of such theft and smuggling tend to increase during this period.

Driven by the prospect of higher profits, fuel oil is smuggled into neighboring countries.

To curb this smuggling, additional BGB troops were eventually deployed along the border last March.

Alongside stepped-up intelligence surveillance, temporary check posts were set up at several key locations.

Imported fuel oil is distributed across the country under the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) through the depots of Padma Oil, Meghna Petroleum, and Jamuna Oil.

A syndicate has created opportunities for theft at multiple stages throughout this entire supply chain, ranging from mother vessels to lighter vessels and from depots to tankers, rail wagons, and river routes.

Even after two and a half decades, this has not been brought under control.

Therefore, it is essential for the Navy and the Coast Guard to conduct regular raids in these areas.

Nowadays, access to fuel is increasingly being recognized as a fundamental human right.

In this situation, as part of national energy security, it is imperative to deal with fuel oil thieves and smugglers with a heavy hand.