The Bangladesh Petrol Pump and Tank Lorry Owners Unity Council has issued a 12 day ultimatum to the government, demanding the fulfilment of a 10-point charter of demands, including setting the fuel sales commission at a minimum of 7%. If unmet, the council has announced a strike from May 25.
At a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity conference room on Sunday, the council’s Joint Convener Syed Sazzadul Karim Kabul presented the demands.
In a written statement, he said: “According to the latest gazette notification issued on September 26, 2023, the commission was fixed at 5% for petrol and octane, and 3% for diesel. Until now, operations were being conducted with dealership licences, explosives licences, and trade licences. Now, new requirements have been imposed to obtain environmental clearance, fire safety, factory inspection, BSTI, and BRC licences. We have long been protesting these issues.”
Announcing the programme, Kabul said: “We have decided to leave the fuel business. However, as a final attempt, based on the unanimous decision reached in a nationwide meeting of fuel traders and association leaders on Saturday, we request the government to fulfil our demands within the next 12 days, by May 24. Otherwise, we will observe a symbolic strike from 6am to 2pm across the country on May 25. During this time, fuel extraction, transportation, and marketing will be suspended. However, fuel supply for Hajj and international flights will remain uninterrupted.”
The key points of the 10-point demand include:
- Setting the fuel sales commission at a minimum of 7%
- Reinstating the previous lease fees for land under the Roads and Highways Department
- Restricting BSTI to only stamping and calibration of dispensing units
- Scrapping fees and registration for underground tank calibration and dip rod testing
- Removing the requirement to obtain environmental, BRC, factory, and fire licences, as petrol pumps are not industries but commission-based businesses
- Stopping direct fuel sales from marketing companies without dealership
- Easing the process of issuing and renewing licences for tank lorry drivers to address the driver shortage
- Prohibiting random roadside inspections of tank lorries under the guise of checking documents
- Implementing the government’s decision to inspect documents at depot gates
- Issuing inter-district route permits for all tank lorries
Also present at the press conference were Council Convener Mohammad Nazmul Haque, Joint Conveners Mizanur Rahman Ratan, Zubair Ahmed Chowdhury, and several others.