Checking fraudulence at filling stations

The number of people who can afford private vehicles is increasing day by day in Dhaka city. And so are increasing the number of vehicles like car. But when it comes to refuelling stations, city dwellers have allegations against most of them. Weight manipulation is quite common in these filling stations, where traders and workers cheat the customers by giving less than the actual amount bought by the customers. In most cases, they tamper the fuel meters, and provide 90-100 millilitres less per 10 litres of fuel oil. According to the Weights and Measures Act 2018, giving less or more than the actual amount is punishable under the law.

There are a number of stations, which sell adulterated fuel. Most of the time, unscrupulous traders mix high proportion of lead and toxic condensate with the fuel oils like diesel, petrol and octane. In absence of condensate, they even use kerosene to adulterate fuels. These adulterated fuels affect engines of vehicles and result in expensive repairs.

CNG (converted natural gas) filling stations are also not free from irregularities. One of the most common complaints against these stations is that they do not provide gas at 200 psi (pounds per square inches). As a result, CNG-run vehicles do not last long. The authorities concerned should monitor refuelling stations every now and then, and take stringent measures against the unscrupulous traders.

Rafid Alam,

Bengal Institute, Dhaka,

rafidalam80@gmail.com