Sale of adulterated fuel continues in North

The sale of adulterated fuels, especially diesel and petrol, has increased in 16 districts of the northern region due to lax monitoring by the concerned authorities. This has led to engine breakdown of different vehicles and diesel driven pumps. Sources said that, fuel oils are adulterated in two ways. Most of the time, unscrupulous fuel traders mix high proportion of condensate with the fuel oils like diesel, petrol and octane. In absence of condensate, they use kerosene oil to adulterate the fuels. Then those are supplied to the users.
The condensate that contains high level of lead come out with natural gas from different gas fields like Haripur, Kailashtila, Rashidpur and Beanibazar. While underground the condensate remains in gracious form, but when it comes out with the gas it condenses into liquid. There are some plants in Bangladesh refining condensate.
But, a section of dishonest fuel oil traders in the northern region procure the crude condensate from the gas fields with less prices and mix it with the fuel oils rampantly. Then they supply the adulterated fuel to the users through different filling stations.
A reliable source said the unscrupulous fuel oil traders in the region collect around 2 lakh litters of such condensate from the gas fields everyday and mix the toxic substance with diesel, petrol and octane.  Around 400 filling stations, thousands of dealers and agents in 16 districts of two divisions --Rajshahi and Rangpur -- are involved in selling of such adulterated fuel oils,
Abul Hossain, a motorbike rider, said engine of his bike is giving trouble after he has poured some petrol from a fuel station at Shaheb Bazaar Zero point area in Rajshahi.
Badrul Alam, a bus driver of Sarker Travel, said the engine of his bus is facing trouble after using fuel from a fuel station at Hatikumrul area in Sirajganj district. Like them, many drivers of buses, trucks and motorbikes in the region complained about engine trouble and damage following use of adulterated fuels.
Abdul Mazid, in-charge of Jamuna Oil Depot at Baghabarighat in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj district, said the condensate can be mixed easily because of its similarity with other oils.
He said Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI) and local administration are mainly responsible for controlling the adulteration of fuel oils. But, there are no visible activities of the two institutions in checking the adulteration.

Sale of adulterated fuel continues in North

The sale of adulterated fuels, especially diesel and petrol, has increased in 16 districts of the northern region due to lax monitoring by the concerned authorities. This has led to engine breakdown of different vehicles and diesel driven pumps. Sources said that, fuel oils are adulterated in two ways. Most of the time, unscrupulous fuel traders mix high proportion of condensate with the fuel oils like diesel, petrol and octane. In absence of condensate, they use kerosene oil to adulterate the fuels. Then those are supplied to the users. The condensate that contains high level of lead come out with natural gas from different gas fields like Haripur, Kailashtila, Rashidpur and Beanibazar. While underground the condensate remains in gracious form, but when it comes out with the gas it condenses into liquid. There are some plants in Bangladesh refining condensate. But, a section of dishonest fuel oil traders in the northern region procure the crude condensate from the gas fields with less prices and mix it with the fuel oils rampantly. Then they supply the adulterated fuel to the users through different filling stations. A reliable source said the unscrupulous fuel oil traders in the region collect around 2 lakh litters of such condensate from the gas fields everyday and mix the toxic substance with diesel, petrol and octane. Around 400 filling stations, thousands of dealers and agents in 16 districts of two divisions --Rajshahi and Rangpur -- are involved in selling of such adulterated fuel oils, Abul Hossain, a motorbike rider, said engine of his bike is giving trouble after he has poured some petrol from a fuel station at Shaheb Bazaar Zero point area in Rajshahi. Badrul Alam, a bus driver of Sarker Travel, said the engine of his bus is facing trouble after using fuel from a fuel station at Hatikumrul area in Sirajganj district. Like them, many drivers of buses, trucks and motorbikes in the region complained about engine trouble and damage following use of adulterated fuels. Abdul Mazid, in-charge of Jamuna Oil Depot at Baghabarighat in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj district, said the condensate can be mixed easily because of its similarity with other oils. He said Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI) and local administration are mainly responsible for controlling the adulteration of fuel oils. But, there are no visible activities of the two institutions in checking the adulteration.