In violation of the government rule, several hundred unauthorised fuel shops across the city continue selling substandard fuel much to the disregard for the environment

According to country’s explosive law, a person must obtain permission from the Department of Explosives to sell above 1000 litres of fuel. Besides, one can sell fuel under a trade license.

A trade license allows only limited sale. But many fuel traders sell petrol and diesel exceeding the amount they are originally

permitted under trade license.

Mostly the government transports and two-stroke private vehicles attracted by lower-price buy petroleum from these unauthorised fuel shops. 'Raders without official permission sell petrol at Tk 28-30 a litre while authorised petrol pumps atTk33 a litre.

Some petroleum traders to profit high add kerosene and other substances to petrol and diesel.

Against the backdrop of such practices, the government last year fixed the colours of kerosene, diesel, petrol and octane to prevent environmental degradation

and to protect consumers' rights.

"Petrol, diesel and octane when mixed with kerosene and other substances cause vehicles to billow black smoke. They also shorten vehicle longevity," said an explosive department official.

• Sources in the explosive department said currently there are around 220 filling stations against 500 unauthorised petroleum shops in the city. Most of these fuel shops are located near the bus terminals and stands like Sayedabad, Mohakhali, Gabtoli, Kalyanpur, Karwan Bazar, Mirpur-1, Mirpur-10 and Dholaikhalarea.

"For the last five years I have

been running my business without any serious difficulty. Sometimes when police create problem I bribe them into keeping mum," said a fuel trader of Mirpur-1 requesting anonymity.

He said he maintains a slock of over 2000 litre petrol and diesel to meet the increased demand.

Nurul Alam, chief inspector of explosives department, said, "Sometimes we carry out drives against illegal petroleum shops but those (drive) are not enough to check the practice."

He, however, could not give the exact number of unlicensed petroleum shops in the city.