Sylhet: The National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate (NCRPD) on Wednesday imposed a fine of Tk 50,000 on a trader for illegally stockpiling a large number of LPG gas cylinders at a house in Shibganj area of Sylhet city. Based on a tip-off, a drive was conducted at a residence and a truck loading 130 filled 12-kg LPG cylinders was seized, said Mohammad Arif Mia, assistant director of NCRPD, Sylhet.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the NCRPD took action against the trader after discovering the illegal stockpile. The trader, operating under the name ‘Makhan Chula Ghar’, was fined Tk 50,000. The truck containing the LPG cylinders had reportedly been kept in the residential area for the past two days.
Arif Mia emphasized that storing LPG cylinders in a residential building without a proper license or designated warehouse is illegal and poses significant fire hazards. This incident follows a previous case where another business owner in Sylhet was fined Tk 1 lakh for selling LPG cylinders at inflated prices.
The LPG gas crisis in the city continues to intensify. Despite government initiatives to reduce taxes and VAT and the withdrawal of a strike by traders, gas supply in the retail market has yet to return to normal. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring a stable and safe supply of LPG in the city.