Filling stations call indefinite strike in Sylhet division

Petrol and CNG refueling stations in Sylhet went on an indefinite strike from yesterday morning protesting the attack on a CNG filling station at South Surma on Monday afternoon.

More then 150 petrol pump and CNG refueling stations in the division called the strike and stopped refueling services, said Amiruzzaman Chowdhury, general secretary of Bangladesh CNG Filling Station Owners Association.

"An altercation between the head of Naiorpul area Microbus Owners' Platform Nazir Mia and a CNG station staff of South Surma CNG and Petroleum Filling Station as Nazir tried to break the queue. Following the altercation, Nazir's associates attacked the station, vandalised it and looted Tk 4,00,000 from the cash," he alleged.

The attack was on behest of Sylhet District Transport Workers' Union President Salim Ahmed Falik, he claimed.

Amiruzzaman said the strike is called as South Surma Police advised to not to file a case naming Falik. The strike will be continued until the attackers are arrested, he said.

Refusing the allegation, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of SMP, Rahmat Ullah, said, "This is not police's duty to suggest whether to file a case or not naming someone. Police did not do anything like this, but we will investigate the attack and take prompt action against the attackers".

Public transports are almost stopped for lack of fuel as well as the private ones. In every refueling station, a long queue of vehicles is seen, as the drivers are waiting for the strike to be called off. Ansar Ali, a CNG auto-rickshaw driver from Jaintapur went to Sylhet for CNG, said, "This is harassment, they called the strike at the middle of the night. Now we have to wait for the strike to be called off."Contacted, Falik denied all the allegations against him, adding, those accusing him were trying to tarnish his image.