The committee will have to submit its report by January 31 next year and until then, the strike will remain suspended. The decision was made at a meeting convened by the Energy Division and chaired by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid at Bidyut Bhaban.
Energy Secretary Abu Hena Rahmatul Munim and other top officials of the ministry and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation were present in the meeting.
It was decided that the committee will be headed by a top official of the Energy Division and include representatives from concerned ministries and Petrol Pump Owners Association, and Tank-Lorry Drivers and Workers Union.
A faction of petrol pump owners and workers went on strike on December 1 in Rajshahi, Khulna, and Rangpur divisions to press for 15 demands. After a meeting with BPC on Dec 2, they suspended the strike until December 15.
The demands include paying 7.5 percent commission on fuel oil sale, introducing accident insurance of Tk 5 lakh for tank lorry workers, increasing fare of tank lorry, and ending police harassment.
Another faction of the petrol pump owners placed 12 demands on December 3. Leaders of this faction also attended Sunday’s meeting.
Nine of their demands are identical with those of the rival faction while three others include cancellation of the BSTI calibration system of underground oil reservoir.