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Commuters, transport operators in a fix

Petrol pump owners continue strike in 3 divisions

Star Report
Fuel supply came to a halt in 26 districts of three divisions as petrol pump and tank lorry owners and workers went on an indefinite strike since early hours of yesterday to press home their 15-point demand.
Hundreds of tank lorries were seen stranded at different parts of Khulna, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions, while vehicular movement was thin due to shortage of fuel.
Transport operators said the situation will worsen, if the strike continues.
Leaders of Bangladesh Petrol Pump o Tank Lorry Malik Shramik Oikya Parishad declared the indefinite strike on Saturday to realise their demands, which include paying 7.5 percent commission on fuel sale, introducing accident insurance of Tk 5 lakh for tank lorry workers, increasing fare of tank lorry and a stop to alleged harassment by law enforcers.
Contacted, Mizanur Rahman Ratan, secretary general of Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners' Association, said they will continue the agitation until their demands are met.
"We have a meeting with the officials of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation tomorrow [today] at Ham in Dhaka. We will take further decision following the meeting," he told this newspaper last night.
Our correspondents from different districts reported on the strike:
In Khulna, hundreds of oil tank lorries were seen stranded on roads in Khalishpur, BIDC, Natun Rasta intersection and Daulatpur areas.
Visiting three state-owned oil depot - Padma, Meghna and Jamuna - in Khalishpur, it was seen that at least 5,000 lorries were waiting for fuel.
"1 tried to load fuel but workers at the depot did not let me," said driver Russel Nabi, who came from Kushtia.
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Driver Habibur Sheik alleged, "I have been trying to get fuel since Saturday night but to no avail. Some workers even threatened me."
"This is the peak season for irrigation. If we do not supply oil, farmers will be affected," said Habib, who came from Meherpur.
Contacted, Khulna Divisional Tank Lorry Workers Union President Sheikh Nur Islam also said they will continue the strike.
Seeking anonymity, a senior official of Padma Oil Limited said, "We are observing the situation. We are planning to supply oil through trains, if the strike continues."
Due to the strike, rush of vehicles was less than normal. Transport operators said it would not be possible to continue their services, if this situation prevails.
"It would not be possible for us to operate buses from Monday (today), if the
strike continues," said Fazle Rabby, general secretary of Transport Workers' Union in Dinajpur.
Rawshan Ali, general secretary of Dinajpur unit Petrol Pump Owners Association, said "There are 360 petrol pumps in eight districts of Rangpur division. All of them are observing the strike."
Around 15 lakh litres of diesel, 3.5 lakh litres of petrol and 1 lakh litres of kerosene are supplied to these eight districts every day. But no fuel was supplied yesterday, said Md Azom Hossain, in-charge of Bangladesh Petroliam Corporation depot in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur.
Due to the crisis, some traders were seen selling kerosene at high prices in Dinajpur town.
In Rajshahi, vehicles were waiting in long queues since Saturday evening to get fuel but the pumps remained shut yesterday.