Khulna tank-lorry workers call off strike
Supply of fuel resumed after 50 hours as tank-lorry workers in Khulna called off their strike yesterday, after their association leaders met with Khulna’s deputy commissioner and police superintendent.
Earlier on Wednesday, the workers went on strike from 8am, demanding withdrawal of a case filed against two fellow workers over a road accident.
Visiting the city’s Khalishpur area, workers of three state-owned oil companies -- Padma, Meghna and Jamuna -- were seen supplying and filling oil after the strike ended.
Khulna Deputy Commissioner Md Helal Hossain called an emergency meeting with district administration, police and association leaders yesterday around 9am at Khulna Circuit House to discuss the strike.
Khulna Police Superintendent SM Safiullah, Deputy Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Mollah Jahangir Hossain, and Habibur Rahman of Fuel Oil Owners’ Association were present, among others.
Sheikh Nur Islam, president of Khulna Division Tank-Lorry Workers’ Union, told The Daily Star that the district administration promised workers that the issue would be resolved within the legal framework as soon as possible.
Later oil-tank lorry leaders announced withdrawal of the strike at a meeting at their office in Khalishpur Notunrasta area around 11am.
During the strike, fuel supply was suspended in all ten districts of Khulna division along with Gopalganj, Faridpur, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Rajbari.
Workers of Padma, Meghna and Jamuna expressed solidarity with tank-lorry workers and refused to load oil to vehicles.
Sheikh Nur said an accident took place on April 4 in Aronghata area of Khulna. No one was killed but police filed a case against two workers. Police also submitted charge sheet against them.
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