Initiatives have been taken to make GPS (Global Positioning System) maps of fuel filling stations across the country.
The government will give approval for setting up a new filling station after screening.
Such initiatives have been taken to prevent unfair competition among traders, prevent adulteration of oil and control its quantity and quality, energy and mineral resources division officials said.
Approval for new filling stations in the country has stopped since 2016. However, a new fuel station was approved last year on special consideration. Applications for construction of many filling stations have been submitted to the Ministry and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
The stalemate in setting up new filling stations is due to unfair competition. However, many owners of the existing filling stations have also worked at the policy-making stage against the construction of new filling stations.
Meanwhile, under the programme of ‘Mujib Barsho,’ Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary, BPC has taken an initiative to set up seven world class model filling stations or petrol pumps in different parts of the country with financial support by private entrepreneurs.
RoadOf these, four filling stations are under construction. Now BPC has proposed to build more model filling stations with its own funds. Three state-owned companies-- Padma Oil Company Limited, Meghna Petroleum Limited and Jamuna Oil Company Limited will set up model filling stations. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has directed initiatives in this regard.
Syed Mehdi Hasan, Director (Ops & Plng) of BPC told the Bangladesh Post ‘We have already sent letters to three state-owned marketing companies. They will prepare a report containing detailed information about filling stations across the country. This report has to be submitted within a month.
Based on that report, it will be decided whether there is a need for a new filling station or not. Then the ministry will make a decision in this regard.
‘Unfair competition among many traders has been seen due to an increase in the number of filling stations. As a result, many traders are mixing adulterated oil and giving less weight. This initiative has been taken to stop this unfair competition,’ he added.
Mehdi Hasan also said the three state-owned companies are looking for potential land for setting up filling stations by maintaining the standards of the model filling station.
In a recent monthly coordination meeting of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Md. Abul Monsur, Additional Secretary (Operation) said that no new filling stations would be allowed to be set up at the City Corporation, district and upazila levels, which has been decided by the state minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
GPS maps will be made of the number of filling stations across the country. The decision will be taken later after checking and selecting whether any other filling station is needed at all.
According to BPC sources, there are 2,260 filling stations in the country. There are 368 filling stations in Chattogram, 558 in Dhaka, 144 in Sylhet, 120 in Mymensingh, 65 in Barishal, 330 in Khulna, 327 in Rajshahi and 348 in Rangpur division.
However, it also discussed the under construction model filling stations at the monthly coordination meeting.
BPC officials said the model pump, spread over an area of 2.15 acres of land, will have a mini park, playground for children, improved toilet, dormitories, restaurant, breastfeeding center, dress changing room, parking space with all other passenger facilities. People will go for filling fuel like petrol, octane, diesel and CNG there.