Fuel oil extraction from 3 Khulna depots halts

Fuel traders have paused the extraction of fuel from Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna oil depots, aiming to press home their demand for increasing fuel sales commission.

Oil extraction was halted from 8am on Sunday. The activity was initiated by the Khulna District Tank-lorry Owners' Association. As a result, oil supply from Khulna to 15 districts has also been halted.

Khulna District Tank-lorry Owners' Association General Secretary Sheikh Murad Hossain said they observed a strike on September 3, demanding a raise in fuel sales commission to 7.5 per cent. The government issued a gazette to increase the commission, but the decision has not been implemented yet. Therefore, they have resumed the strike.

Last month, fuel traders called an indefinite strike to press home their three-point demand.

The three-point demands included - increasing the economic lifetime of fuel-carrying tank-lorries to 50 years, raising fuel sales commission to 7.5 per cent, and issuing a gazette in this regard.

Bangladesh Tank-lorry Owners Association, Bangladesh Fuel Oil Distributors Association, Khulna Divisional Tank-lorry Sramik Union, and Padma Meghna and Jamuna Tank-lorry Sramik Kalyan Samity participated in last month's strike.

/KN/