CNG filling stations lose Tk 100m a day

The country's CNG filling station owners are counting loss worth Tk 100 million a day in the wake of the ongoing political turmoil.
This was claimed by the leaders of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association on Saturday.
The businesses of the sector shrank by around 80 per cent due to the current political impasse, they claimed at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity.
"We want a solution to the political crisis," was the theme of the press conference.   
Convenor of the association Masud Khan urged the ministry of finance to arrange a waiver of bank interest and rescheduling of bank loans to survive in the wake of the ongoing political turmoil that has taken a heavy toll on their businesses.
He also urged the government to facilitate payment of bank interest in instalments without any interest for those compressed natural gas (CNG) station owners who have already become defaulters.
The association leader also urged the country's major political parties to resolve the current political stalemate through discussion.
"Otherwise, the country will be bankrupt," he cautioned.
The CNG filling station owners have invested around Tk 30 billion to build 590 CNG filling stations and conversion workshops of which Tk 20 billion was arranged through bank loans, Mr Khan said.
The sector has now turned a loss-making one due to the turmoil, he added.
Some 200,000 people are employed in the sector, he said.
He also called upon the Ministry of Home to ensure security of the country's CNG filling stations and conversion workshops.
    azizjst@yahoo.com