CNG stations go on strike from Nov 1 as talks fail
A meeting between the CNG refuelling pumps owners and the state-owned Petrobangla yesterday concluded without any agreement.
As a result, the non-stop strike at the CNG refuelling stations across the country, which was earlier announced by the pump owners, is going to start from November 1.
The announcement on the strike came on October 2 from an extraordinary general meeting of Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association demanding the withdrawal of the government's order to keep stations closed for six hours everyday.
They also placed six other demands. The demands include installation of electronic volume metres at the CNG pumps; reducing the energy regulatory commission's license fee to Tk 5,000 from the present Tk 100,000 and fixing annual renewal fee at Tk 1,000; and exempting the CNP pumps from taking the Environment Department's no objection certificates.
Giving an ultimatum of about one month's time, the owners had said they would start non-stop strike from November 1 if the order on six-hour pump closure is not withdrawn by October 31.
Against this backdrop, Petrobangla invited the leaders of the CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association to the meeting to find a solution.
Sources in the meeting said both sides were locked in a heated debate on the issue of CNG use and gas rationing, but failed to reach an understanding.
President of the CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association Shafiul Islam Kamal, its Secretary General Zakir Hossain Nayon and Finance Secretary Abdullah Al Mamun led the talks on behalf of their organisations while Petrobangla Chairman Hossain Mansur led his organisation's side.
After the meeting, CNG owner association leaders blamed the Petrobangla officials for failing the talks.
Al Mamun said Petrobangla officials stick to a rigid position against the withdrawal of the six-hour pump closure.
“Actually, they were only asking for withdrawal of the strike programme instead of considering our demands which was not acceptable. So, we will start strike as per announcement,” he told reporters.
The Petrobangla chairman, however, said the six-hour pump closure order has no relation to the interests of the CNG pump owners.
“The calling of the strike is unjustified as their sales have not dropped following the six-hour pump closure order. Secondly, like other sectors, the CNG stations also have to accept the gas rationing,” he said.
The owners of CNG stations have been keeping their pumps closed from 3:00pm to 9:00pm daily since August 16 this year in compliance with a government order.
The government issued the order as part of its gas-rationing move to tackle the nagging energy crisis.
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