United News of Bangladesh

Fuel collection, marketing and transportation have been suspended in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions since Wednesday morning due to a wildcat strike enforced by Bangladesh Petroleum, Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners’ Association. Rajshahi and Rangpur divisional chapters of the association went on strike together in protest against an eviction drive by Roads and Highways Department (RHD) in Boguar’s Santahar on Tuesday. Two petrol pumps were demolished during the drive. In a statement, signed by Rajshahi chapter president Md Mizanur Rahman and general secretary Md Abdul Jalil, the decision to enforce the strike was made public on Tuesday shortly after the eviction drive. Commuters suffer as Bhola bus workers go on strike Though it was scheduled to enforce the strike from 8am on Wednesday, most of refilling stations in Natore remained closed since 6am, crippling vehicle movement. The statement reads the RHD conducted the eviction drive without any prior notice to the fuel pump authorities which was unprecedented. Urging the petrol pump owners to observe the strike, the association sensed conspiracy against the government in the drive, according to the statement.

Fuel collection from three depots in Khulna and its supply to 16 districts under Khulna division resumed on Wednesday morning following the withdrawal of the indefinite work abstention enforced by Khulna divisional tank-lorry workers’ union. The union’s treasurer Mizanur Rahman said they called off the strike early Wednesday after the district administration assured of meeting their demands. workers started lifting fuel and supplying it to the districts at 8am, he said.Earlier on Sunday afternoon, the workers went on an indefinite work abstention protesting the arrest of union general secretary Ali Azam in a sabotage case and demanding his release. Tank Lorry workers struck work in Khulna to protest union leader's arrest As a result, the fuel lifting from the depots and supply to refueling stations came to a halt across the division. Detectives arrested leader Azam on Sunday and handed over to Khalishpur police station. He is an identified accused in the sabotage case filed on August 21 last. Protesting the arrest, the workers refrained from loading fuel from Padma, Meghna and Jauma depots.