The Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association withdrew its strike eight hours after it had called for an indefinite strike in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions from Wednesday morning protesting against a Roads and Highways Department鈥檚 recent eviction drive in Naogaon.
Abdul Jalil, general secretary of the association鈥檚 Rajshahi division unit, said that they had withdrawn the strike at 4:00pm on Wednesday following a meeting with the Bogura district administration.
He said that they had been conducting their business for a long period by using the Roads and Highways Department鈥檚 land to connect the petrol pumps with highways.
鈥楾he officials of Roads and Highways Department of Naogaon district conducted a sudden eviction drive and excavated the connecting government lands at three petrol pumps without any prior announcement, notice or official letter, leaving petrol pump owners extremely frustrated and outraged,鈥� he said.
Abdul Jalil said that the district administration had assured them of providing compensation to the affected petrol pump owners and looking into the reason behind the sudden drive.
Meanwhile, people suffered immensely as inter-district and regional bus services and goods transportation in trucks came to a halt in the sixteen districts of the two divisions following the suspension of fuel extraction, distribution and transportation.
Sabbir Hossain, who came to refuel petrol at Gul Gofur Petrol Pump in Rajshahi city, said that he went to three different petrol pumps before but none of them sold any fuel.
鈥業 don鈥檛 know what to do now. I might have to buy the fuel from shops at a higher price; otherwise, my vehicle will stop running,鈥� he added.
抖阴精品 correspondent in Rangpur reported that owners of hundreds of vehicles, including motorbikes, private cars, jeeps and micro-buses were unable to buy fuel at different petrol pumps in the city in the morning.
Meanwhile, passengers bound for different destinations faced crises.
Rafiqul Islam, a college teacher at Syedpur upazila under Nilphamari district, said he could not go to college due to the absence of busses in Rangpur- Syedpur route.
Lemon Miah, at Sapla Intersection of the city, said, he was supposed to go to Mithapukur upazila by bike for an urgent job, but he failed to follow through due to the strike.
