Staff Reporter :
Fuel oil distributors and tank lorry owners have called an indefinite strike by stopping oil extraction and supply from three depots in Khulna, protesting three-point demand, including fuel oil sales commission and reduction in tank lorry fare. The strike was called off around 5 pm on Tuesday after getting assurance from the administration.
Confirming the matter to The New Nation, General Secretary Bangladesh Tank Lorry Association Md Farhad Hossain said that the ongoing indefinite strike has been called off.
He said that the strike was started by stopping oil extraction from Padma, Meghna and Jamuna depots in Khulna division from 8 am on Tuesday in protest against the reduction of fuel oil sales commission and tankary rent. This program has been suspended indefinitely with the assurance of the administration, he added.
He further said that oil extraction and delivery will resume as usual from Wednesday morning.
Further decision will be taken later after discussing with the central leaders, he added.
Earlier on the day, traders in Khulna went on an indefinite strike to press home their three-point demand including increase of fuel oil sales commission and tank-lorry rent.
As a result, extraction of fuel from Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil depots in and supply to 14 districts was suspended around 8am on Tuesday as part of the strike.
Bangladesh Tank lorry Owners’ Association, Bangladesh Fuel Distributors’ Association, and four other organisations are observing the strike in protest of the reduction in commission and to press home their three-point demand. The price of fuel was reduced by Tk five last night. Subsequently, the commission was reduced by Tk 0.13 per litre and the tank lorry fare by Tk 0.3, the protesters said.
Sheikh Murad Hossain, General Secretary of the Khulna Divisional Committee of Bangladesh Fuel Distributors Association told this correspondent, “Currently, the fuel oil sales commission should be increased proportionally with the increase in the price of fuel. Otherwise we cannot survive.”
“We are on an indefinite strike. As a result, fuel extraction from three state owned depots of Khulna has been stopped and oil supply has suspended in 10 districts of Khulna division and 4 districts of Greater Faridpur,” he said.
Traders said that the price of fuel was reduced by Tk 5 per litre last night. Also, fuel oil commission has been reduced by 13 paisa per litre and tank-lorry fare by 3 paisa.
Moral Abdus Sobahan, Senior Vice President of Khulna Divisional Committee of Fuel Oil Distributors Association said, “Commission was not increased proportionately when the fuel price was hiked. However, they reduced the commission and the tank-lorry fare as soon as fuel price reduced to Tk 5. What the government’s policymakers are thinking or doing is beyond our comprehension.”
However, when the price of oil increased, the commission was not increased proportionately.
“The commission and tank-lorry fare have been reduced along with the price reduction of 5 taka. We do not understand what the government’s policy-making stage is doing, what it is thinking, he added.
President of Bangladesh Tank-Lorry Owners Association Sajjadul Islam Kabul said, ‘We announced the programme with 3-point demands. We are told that our demands will be resolved. What we saw last night, we saw that instead of increasing the commission, it has been reduced the price of oil. Also the tank-lorry fare has been reduced. In the morning, traders are observing a strike by stopping oil extraction from Khulna depot. This strike will continue indefinitely.”
However, fuel oil is being sold from petrol pumps in various areas of Khulna city.
