STAR REPORT

Fuel supply in 14 districts of Khulna and Faridpur regions remained suspended for the third consecutive day yesterday due to tank lorry workers continuing their abstention, protesting the arrest of Khulna Divisional Tank Lorry Workers’ Union General Secretary Ali Azim.

Azim was arrested on Sunday in a case filed over vandalising a local BNP office in Khulna’s Khalishpur.

As the issue has not been resolved, the sale of oil, including petrol, diesel, octane, etc., will be stopped at around 300 pumps in just the Khulna Division today (Wednesday), according to Sajjadul Karim Kabul, president of the Khulna Division Fuel Distributors Association.

The abstention has been jointly called by the Bangladesh Tank Lorry Owners’ Association, Bangladesh Fuel Distributors’ Association, Khulna Divisional Tank Lorry Workers’ Union, and the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna Tank Lorry Workers’ Welfare Association.

Now, stock of oil at most pumps in the Khulna and Faridpur region has plummeted to zero.

Mir Moksed Ali, president of the Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna Tanker Workers’ Welfare Association, said, “We tried to convince the workers to stop the blockade on Sunday night. They refused, after which we were then attacked by joint forces. I was also beaten up. Now, the workers are angry about this incident and won’t relent until Ali Azim is released.”

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