Petrol pump strike called off

Petrol pump and tank-lorry owners withdrew their countrywide indefinite strike Monday evening after the government agreed to meet their demands, including a hike in commission on sales of fuel.

Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners and Tank-Lorry Owners-Workers Unity Council went on the strike Sunday morning to press home their nine-point demand.

Harun-or-Rashid, secretary general of the council, told The Daily Star that they called off the strike as the government has agreed to meet all of their demands at a meeting at the power and energy ministry.

The demands include a 3.4 percent increase in commission on sales of diesel and 4 percent on sales of petrol and octane following price hike of fuel.

Other demands of the pump owners include a rise in tank-lorry fare and necessary steps against adulteration of fuel.

Around 4,500 petrol pumps remained closed and 30,000 tank-lorries stayed off the streets across the country since 6:00am Sunday to Monday evening due to the strike.

Source: The Daily Star