Petrol pump owners postpone strike till Dec 15

Petrol pump owners and workers have postponed their indefinite strike in three divisions till December 15.

The decision was taken at a meeting between the director of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and the leaders of Khulna Division Tank Owners Association, Murad Hossain, general secretary of Khulna Division Fuel Oil Dealers Association, told The Daily Star.

Yesterday, leaders of Bangladesh Petrol Pump O Tank Lorry Malik Shramik Oikya Parishad enforced the indefinite strike in Rajshahi, Rangpur and Khulna divisions to press home their 15-point demand.

The demands 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 stopping police harassment.

Following the strike, transport owners and passengers of 21 districts had to face trouble as the fuel oil supply remained suspended due to the strike.

Sufferings were still at a tolerable level as they used reserved fuel, the owners told our Rangpur correspondent today.

Earlier in the day, the transport owners said if the strike continues, it would not be possible for them to run their vehicles.

Sale and transportation of fuel around 2,000 petrol pumps in Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Khulna had been put to a halt for the strike.