Fuel supply resumes in northern Bangladesh as owners, workers end strike after meeting

Petrol pump owners and tanker workers in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions have withdrawn their strike following assurances from the authorities.

Azizul Islam, president of the Northern Tank Lorry Workers' Union, said the decision was taken at a meeting at the energy ministry around 3:45pm on Wednesday.

Following this, fuel extraction and distribution from the Baghabari River Port depot in Sirajganj’s Shahjadpur resumed, and petrol pumps restarted operations, he added.

Azizul said the strike was called in protest after the Roads and Highways Department, claiming ownership of the land, evicted a petrol pump in Naogaon without prior notice and blocked the road.

As a result, the petrol pump owners' association in 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions decided to halt fuel extraction and distribution for an indefinite period from Wednesday morning.

Due to the strike, fuel extraction, supply, and distribution remained suspended from the morning.

In this situation, an emergency meeting was held at the Secretariat around 2pm at the invitation of Md Saiful Islam, the energy secretary, and Md Amin Ul Ahsan, the chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation.

Leaders of the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Owners' Association attended the meeting.

The ongoing strike was withdrawn after authorities assured them that their demands would be met.