Administration turns blind eye

Md Washim Sheikh:

Setting up an unauthorized petrol pump on the roadside is not only illegal, but also risky. However, a number of such illegal mini petrol pumps has been established on different roadsides in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj district under the nose of concerned authorities that posing serious risk of fatal accidents.

The question arises as to how these petrol pumps have been doing brisk business for a long time under the nose of the administration and why the concerned administration has turned a blind eye to this despite multiple news-reports published in various media outlets in several times?

There are allegations that, the administration is limited only in promising to take action, but in reality, no action is seen to be taken, but why the reasons, locals raise questions?

There is hearsay that, some unscrupulous officials of district and upazila administrations and some members of local Thana, DB and DSB take monthly honourarium from such illegal petrol pumps on condition of remaining silent. As a result, no one of the concerned authorities sees these even after the illegal and risky activities are going on in front of their eyes regularly.

During an investigation, this correspondent came to know that, several unauthorized petrol pumps or filling stations including Messrs. Talukdar Filling Station at Chaknur village, Messrs. Saleha Enterprise and Messrs. Sohel Traders in Basail village near Nimgachhi Baza’ar have been carrying fuel refilling business for long after managing some unscrupulous officials of the concerned authorities. The influential traders preserve petrol, diesel, octane and kerosene in several hundreds of drums and then supply to several vehicles including motorbikes, buses, cars and trucks by using more than one digital electronic meters.

Due to preserving the fuels in drums, risk of furious accidents or fire poses there. But there are no visible fire extinguishing system in these business establishments.

Basically, approvals and licenses are required from multiple government agencies including Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), Department of Explosives, Department of Environment and Fire Service to set up and operate petrol pump or filling station in the country.

Of them, permission from any of the marketing companies under Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC)—like Padma Oil Company, Meghna Oil Company or Jamuna Oil Company is required for a fuel dealership or setting up a filling station or fuel pump.

Explosive License:

‘Form-T’ or specific category license from the Department of Explosives is a must to store and sell fuel oils.

Environmental Clearance:

A clearance certificate is required from the Department of Environment to ensure environmental safety.

Fire Safety License:

A license is required from the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department to ensure fire safety.

Local and other approvals:

A trade license is required from the local municipality or Union Parishad to run a fuel oil business or pump. Besides, no objection certificate (NOC) from the Department of Roads and Highways is required to set up any fuel pumps or filling station on the roadside.

But, surprising matter is that, these illegal petrol pumps are doing brisk business on the roadsides for long without these licenses or approval with just a trade license. Consequently, locals have been facing furious fire risk. But they did not get any remedy even after filing verbal complaints to the respective UNO, villagers said.

Sources said, these unauthorized traders collect contaminated fuel oils from different illegal stores set up on the both sides of Hatikumurl-Pabna highway via Baghabari. Then, they sell these with high rate taking the advantage of drivers and vehicle owners’ weakness, when their tanks got exhausted.

Tuhin Alam, Assistant Director of Environment Department in Sirajganj said, “No one of these illegal fuel traders came to me for environmental certificate so far.”

The comment of Raiganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) was not found even after several attempts over the cell phone due to his sickness.

While contacted, Aminul Islam, Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Sirajganj assured to conduct mobile court to root up such illegal pumps and requested this correspondent to talk with ADM over the issue.