Taking advantage of the edible oil crisis in the market, a former official of the Department of Agricultural Extension Layekuzzaman illegally stored 512 litres of oil with a hope of making a hefty profit during Ramadan.

In the last six days, the DAE's former deputy assistant agriculture officer collected the oil from different places and stored at a house.

Based on information, a team of Mohammadpur police led by Sub-inspector Monir yesterday arrested Layekuzzaman along with 512 litres of oil from the house in Lalmatia, said Deputy Commissioner (Tejgaon Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Biplob Kumar Sarkar at a press conference this afternoon.

Layekuzzaman lives in a flat in Lalmatia and also takes care of his father-in-law's house next to it. The oil was stored at his in-law's house, the DC said. During primary interrogation, Layekuzzaman said he had purchased the oil on his own and stored it. He showed a receipt of Surya Enterprises in an agricultural market from where he bought 40 litres of oil at Tk 159 per litre, said the police official.

The DC said a case has been filed against Layekuzzaman under the Special Powers Act with Mohammadpur Police Station. A seven-day remand will be sought for him, he said. During interrogation, police will try to know from where the arrestee got the rest of the oil, said Bipob.

Replying to another question, the DMP DC said, "We will also interrogate the trader who sold the 40 litres of oil to one person. Apart from this, we are constantly monitoring whether anyone is hoarding oil to create this crisis of edible oil. We will conduct operation as soon as we get any news in this regard".