Although a large number of car engines in the country are damaged by adulterated fuel, there is not enough monitoring to prevent it. Car engines are basically failing due to the use of adulterated fuel. The quality of fuel used in the engine of each car is determined during the manufacturing process. If lower quality fuel is used than this, problems arise in the engine. There are allegations that the quality is not maintained properly during fuel refining in Bangladesh. And the fuel available in the market is also adulterated in various ways. This information is known from sources related to victims, mechanics and petrol pumps.
According to relevant sources, adulterated fuel is playing a huge role in the lifespan of reconditioned cars. Each engine of Toyota reconditioned cars brought from Japan is usually supposed to last up to five lakh kilometers. But after being brought to Bangladesh, many of them are damaged within two and a half to three lakh kilometers. The use of adulterated fuel is a major reason for the decrease in vehicle mileage and the variation in it. Although mobile courts are often used to prevent the sale of adulterated fuel in the country, fines are also being imposed on some petrol pump in different parts of the country every month. However, petrol pump owners claim that the pumps have no hand in the sale of adulterated fuel. There is no opportunity to adulterate the pump or buy fuel from the open market. When the fuel-carrying vehicles leave for the pump from the depot, it may have been adulterated.
Sources say that the most adulteration occurs midway between the fuel depot and the petrol pump. There are also allegations of adulteration after condensate is taken to a private refinery. A public-private network is active in this entire process. Because adulteration of fuel is not possible for any party alone. There is a big syndicate in this case. Currently, the price of condensate per liter is below 40 taka. And diesel is being sold at 104 taka per liter. Moreover, petrol is being sold at Tk 121 per liter and octane at Tk 125 per liter. Accordingly, if 1 liter of condensate is mixed in every 10 liters of fuel, petrol pumps and open market sellers have an opportunity to make at least Tk 10 extra profit on fuel per liter. Again, if 10 liters of condensate is mixed in 100 liters of fuel, there is no easy way to catch it.
Sources also said that at least 6.5 to 6.7 million tons of fuel oil are sold in the country every year. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, 4.254 million tons of fuel diesel were sold in the country. In addition, 4.30 million and 3.87 million tons of petrol and octane were sold respectively. BPC sells and markets fuel oil in the market according to the standards set by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). Still, fuel is being adulterated in the market in some way or the other. There are 11 private fractionation plants in the country to supply fuel to BPC. Those plants import condensate from outside the country. BPC buys fuel from them and releases it to the market after testing it. However, BPC officials are not able to say anything clear about whether the fuel obtained by refining condensate produced from domestic gas fields is being adulterated from anywhere.
On the other hand, BPC Chairman Amin-Ul-Ahsan said that the fuel products imported and supplied by BPC are within the BSTI approved standards. In addition, the depots have analyzers for testing fuel. But after the fuel is released from the depot, adulterated fuel is being mixed from some places. With the cooperation of BSTI, BPC runs mobile courts through the district administration. Many people are also fined there. A committee has been formed from the Energy Department to prevent adulterated fuel. A few magistrates have also been appointed to run the mobile courts there. Now, the campaign against adulterated fuel will be further strengthened at the field level.
Liberty News has confirmed that hundreds of vehicles get damaged in Bangladesh due to bad fuel. This issue has been ongoing for a long time and vehicle owners are always on the lookout for good sources of good fuel.
LND/SBR
