Fuel supply to Rangpur division halted as tanker workers go on strike

Fuel supply to all eight districts of Rangpur division remained suspended as tanker workers began an indefinite strike on Sunday, March 29, to protest the imprisonment and fines imposed on three fellow workers in Nilphamari.

They started the programme by stopping operations at the Railway Head Oil Depot in Parbatipur from this morning, and the petrol pump owners' association and others concerned expressed solidarity with them.

Leaders of the Rangpur Divisional Tanker Workers Union called the strike, demanding the release of the detained workers within 24 hours and the removal of Nilphamari Nezarat Deputy Collector (NDC) Niaz Bhuiyan.

Tank lorrey workers union leaders said three workers were heading towards Nilphamari along with a company’s fuel oil on a lorry from Railway Head Oil Depot in Parbatipur on Saturday night.

They were repairing the cabin of the lorry when it developed a mechanical fault on the way. At that time, Deputy Collector Niaz sentenced the three workers to six months’ jail and fined them Tk 1 lakh each on charges of oil theft. 

However, the district administration claimed the three workers stopped an oil-laden lorry and were filling a drum with oil to smuggle.

Ataur Rahman, president of the Rangpur Divisional Tanker Workers Union, said the administration has not yet initiated discussions with them.

“The strike will continue until our demands are met. However, no one will be obstructed if they wish to take fuel from the depot,” he said.

With inputs from UNB

Amirul Haque/MSU