Petrol pump owners started nationwide strike

MNA Editorial Desk: Owners and workers of petrol pump, tanks and lorries have started a seven-hour nationwide strike to press for a 12-point of charter of demands which includes cancellation of a hike in lease charges.

All petrol pumps and tank-lorries across the country will keep their shutters down from 6am to 3pm on the day as per an announcement of Bangladesh Petrol Pump and Tank-Lorry Owners-Workers Unity Council.

The declaration came from a press conference of the council at a city hotel last week. One of the main demands of the council is abolition of new ‘abnormal’ land lease charge imposed by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) for the use of its land by petrol pump owners.

The other demands include re-fixation of commissions on the sale of petroleum, introducing Tk5-lakh accident-insurance coverage for tank-lorry workers, re-fixation of evaporation and operation loss at reasonable level, banning the sale of petroleum fuel by private refiners to petrol pumps to check the fuel adulteration or allowing them under necessary legal framework.

Construction of new terminals for tank-lories in new locations and renovation of old terminals, reviewing the existing policy for petrol pump set-up, and stopping police harassment on tank-lorry operation are also among the 12 demands.