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Fuel supply to petrol pumps in many areas across the country was disrupted on Sunday, as some pump owners and lorry operators enforced strike.
Fractions of Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners' Association (BPPOA), Bangladesh Tank-Lorry Owners' Association, Bangladesh Tank-Lorry Workers' Union, and Padma, Meghna and Jamuna Tank-Lorry Workers' Welfare Association called the strike to press home their various demands.
Their demands include: fixing fuel oil sales commission at 7.50 per cent, publishing gazette recognising the petrol pump owners as commission agents, and publishing gazette notification announcing non-application of value added tax (VAT) on fares of tank-lorries, and fixing the economic life of tank lorries which are over 25 years old.
On Sunday, many pumps in the capital were found out of oil, while vehicles queued up for procuring fuel.
Sazzadul Karim Kabul, president of a fraction of petrol pump owners' association, said the strike was enforced in areas like Rajshahi, Rangpur, Natore, Baghabari, Khulna, Dhaka and Chattogram.
He told the FE that a meeting was supposed to be held between the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) and the petrol pump owners and lorry operators on Sunday to discuss issues relating to enhancing the agents' commission.
"If any fruitful decision comes from the meeting, we may decide to call off our strike."
Mr. Kabul, however, said the BPC had assured them of revising the commission rate tomorrow (Tuesday).
Earlier, they vowed to continue the strike until their demands are met.
Meanwhile, Nazmul Huq, president of another fraction of Bangladesh petrol pump dealers, distributors, agents and owners association, in a press conference at the BPC on Sunday said unless the strike is called off a severe fuel scarcity would occur across the country.
Lorries are not allowed to enter the oil depots, and so pumps face oil shortage, he added.