Fuel traders strike in Khulna, supply cut off in 14 districts

Fuel traders in Khulna called an indefinite strike from this morning to press home their three-point demand, including raising sales commission to 7.5 percent.

The other demands include setting the tank-lorry economic life to 50 years, and issuing a gazette notification in line with the pledges made.

Bangladesh Tank-lorry Owners Association, Bangladesh Fuel Oil Distributors Association, Khulna Divisional Tank-lorry Sramik Union and Padma Meghna and Jamuna Tank-lorry Sramik Kalyan Samity called the strike, reports our local correspondent.

Sheikh Murad Hossain, general secretary of Khulna divisional committee of Bangladesh Fuel Oil Distributors Association, told The Daily Star, "The commission for selling fuel oil should be increased proportionately with the increase in fuel prices. Otherwise, we will not be able to survive.

"As a result, the extraction of fuel oil from three state-owned depots in Khulna has been stopped and the supply of fuel oil has been stopped in 10 districts of Khulna division and four districts of Faridpur," he said.

"Oil extraction and transportation have been suspended indefinitely from today as the government has not met the demands set till August 31," he said.

As the decision to stop the oil supply remained unchanged, the crowd at the pumps in Khulna started increasing from last night. Visiting some of the pumps, many private cars and motorcycles were seen waiting in queue to refill.