Petrol pump, lorry owners threaten strike from May 9

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The Petrol Pump Owners Association and the Tank Lorry Owners Association will start an indefinite strike from May 9, if their eight demands are not met, reports bdnews24.com.
Tank Lorry Owners' Association president Syed Sajjadul Karim Kabul declared the programme in a press conference at the press club Monday.
"We are submitting eight legal demands to the government, and hope the government will show good intentions in implementing the demands," he said.
But if the government does not, we will stop the transport of all kinds of fuels including that used for aircraft throughout the country from 6:00am May 9, he added.
The demands include starting accident insurance for drivers, stopping police harassment, construction of separate restroom for the drivers in the terminals and tank-lorry parking places, increasing the numbers of highway police, an exemption on the payment of VAT on chassis import, and limitation on the import of lorries.
He also demanded that the owners should be paid in accordance with the July 1 instruction from the fuel and mineral resources ministry.
A written statement said previously the government has made several promises and signed agreements, but those were not implemented. So the tank-lorry owners now feel discontented.
"We have allowed the government a long time to meet our demands, but it appears that the government was not sincere." Despite difficult circumstances, the tank-lorry owners and workers have maintained continuous supply of fuel, the statement added.
They hoped to receive the support of the public in meeting their demands.
Among others, vice president of the association Shahajada Anowarul Kadir, central leader Abdul Malek, Mijanur Rahman Ratan, Abdul Mamin Dulal, Tofajjal Hossain and Mijanur Rahman were also present in the press conference.