Prog called off after fuel sales commission review assurance

The Bangladesh Petrol Pump and Tank Lorry Owners Unity Council bagged assurance from state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) of "reviewing" fuel sales commission within 15 working days amid its observance of an eight-hour strike until 2pm Sunday.
The council leaders also threatened to enforce a strike again if their other demands were not met within two months.
On Sunday, the petrol pump and tank lorry owners enforced their strike from 6am in the morning, as announced earlier, to press home their seven-point demand, including raising fuel sales commission by up to 7.0 per cent.
During the eight-hour strike, they held a meeting with the BPC leaders and called off the programme around an hour ahead of its duration, as announced earlier.
As previously announced, petroleum sales, transportation, and distribution were suspended nationwide during the strike.
The supply of jet fuel for international flights and Hajj pilgrims, however, remained uninterrupted.
Besides, fuel supply for ambulances and fire service vehicles was exempted from the strike, while police vehicles under fuel supply agreements were allowed to refuel at petrol pumps.
Apart from raising fuel sales commission, other demands of the council include maintaining the existing lease fees set by the Roads and Highways Department, renewing pump access road leases upon the submission of pay orders and applications, limiting Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institution's (BSTI) role to verifying measurements and stamping fuel dispensers, and eliminating fees and registrations for underground tank calibration and dip rod testing.
Lifting the requirement for environmental, factory, and fire service licences, banning unlicensed indoor and open-air fuel vending machines, halting direct oil sales by marketing companies without dealerships, and simplifying the licensing and renewal process for tank lorry drivers were also among their demands.
The council had announced the strike on May 11 at a press conference, warning of an eight-hour work abstention on May 25 if their demands were not fulfilled by May 24.
It is a combined platform comprising the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association and the Bangladesh Tank Lorry Owners Association.

Azizjst@yahoo.com