Fuel Theft Persists in Dhaka Despite Raids

Motorists in Dhaka continue to face fuel shortages at filling stations, with a recent government inspection revealing that customers received 530 millilitres less fuel for every 10 litres purchased. Officials from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute stated that inspectors uncovered this deficit at Ms Pouro Filling Station in Sayedabad, exposing a problem that repeated enforcement actions have failed to eliminate. BSTI Executive Magistrate Md Mahbubul Islam noted that operators manipulate dispensing equipment so the meter records more fuel than actually reaches the vehicle. Consumers across the capital allege even greater losses, sometimes receiving as much as one litre less than displayed on the pump. Suspected practices include electronic chips interfering with measurements, attendants interrupting fuel delivery while the meter registers a sale, and adulterating fuel with cheaper substances. Long-distance transport operators face particularly large losses because buses frequently purchase 100 to 200 litres at a time. At the detected shortage rate, a customer buying 200 litres would receive 10.6 litres less than paid for. While the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association acknowledged the issue and informed the government, officials noted that theft persists despite raids.