Petrol pump in Kafrul fined Tk5 lakh for short-selling fuel by up to 530ml per ten litres

A petrol pump in Dhaka's West Kafrul has been fined 5 lakh taka and had three of its dispensing units shut down after an inspection found it was supplying less fuel than customers paid for, with shortages of up to 530ml per ten litres.

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) detected the irregularities during a mobile court operation at Messrs Sobhan Filling and Servicing Station at 220/A-2, Begum Rokeya Sarani, on Tuesday, according to a media release.

During the inspection, officials tested three nozzles of two octane dispensing units and found that they were supplying 450ml, 440ml and 220ml less octane, respectively, for every ten litres.

They also tested two nozzles of a diesel dispensing unit and found shortages of 250ml and 530ml per ten litres of diesel, respectively.

Following the findings, the mobile court fined the establishment 5 lakh taka under the Weights and Measures Standards Act, 2018. It also ordered the closure of the three dispensing units involved in the irregularities.

The operation was led by BSTI Executive Magistrate Lutfunnesa Khanam, with assistance from Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

BSTI Field Officer (CM) Mohammad Abdul Kader and Metrology Examiner Ahsan Habib Khan served as prosecutors during the operation.

BSTI said such drives would continue to prevent fuel measurement fraud and activities that undermine consumer interests.