<i>Long queues at pumps on eve of strike </i>

A poster of Petrol Pump and Tank-Lorry Owners-Workers Unity calls for an indefinite strike from today to press for, among other issues, an end to suing drivers under section 302 of the penal code. Photo: Amran Hossain

Panic-stricken vehicle owners queued up at filling stations yesterday since morning to refuel ahead of the indefinite strike called by petrol pump and tank-lorry owners.
“Because of the long tailback it took almost an hour to fill my car's tank with octane. Usually, it takes five to six minutes,” said Farhadul Islam, an electric goods trader in the city's Nawabpur area.
He is hoping the fuel lasts him for the few days.
The petrol pump and tank-lorry owners enforce the countrywide strike starting today to press home their nine-point demand, which includes a hike in commission rates on fuel sales.
One of the demands -- legal coverage for drivers -- drew controversy.
Waiting in the queue at Shahbagh's Mukti Filling Station around 2:00pm, Anwar Hossain, a motorcycle rider, said: “I have rarely seen such a long queue here.
“Although I can ride for another day with the fuel I have in the tank, I need to refill because of the strike.”
Nazmul Haque, convener of the Petrol Pump and Tank Lorry Owners-Workers Unity, said, “We want implementation of the commission rate recommended by the government committee in September 2011.”
The commission rate recommended by the committee was 3.4 percent on per litre of diesel sales and 4 percent on per litre of petrol and octane sales, he said.
Presently, the petrol pump owners get 2.4 percent in commission on diesel sales and 3.1 percent on petrol and octane sales.
Another demand is that their workers and leaders are not sued under section 302 of the penal code.
Legal experts find the demand illogical.
Borhan Uddin, a lawyer, said, “If anyone is proved guilty, he or she must be punished. But no-one can demand that drivers should not be sued under a certain section of the law.”
He also pointed out that there is a lack of clarity in the demand.
“Usually, transport-related or accident-related cases are filed under section 304 (B) of Bangladesh Penal Code, not under section 302.”
The petrol pump and tank lorry owners' other demands include renewal of driving licence on the basis of necessary examination and publication of a gazette notification after an amendment to the petrol pump installation policy.