Dhaka: Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association announced a strike on October 30 from 6:00am until their demands are met in all the filling stations in the country.

The association made the announcement in a press conference on Wednesday in Dhaka.

They demanded the cancellation of high charges of Road and Highways department, withdrawal of the proposal to increase the price of gas, and implementation of the recommendations by the Energy Ministry.

President of the Association Masud Khan said, ‘I am just saying about a CNG filling station which is located in the Syhlet Road Division.  It paid its annual rent for leasing the land, an amount TK 52,560 before imposing new rule on 22 October in 2015.’

According to rescheduled rate by Road and Highways Department, it will have to pay TK 11,28,682 which is 22 times the regular price.  The rate has increased in metropolitan areas almost 188 times in some areas.

‘We have to pay now a big amount for rent of lease and deposited fee according to new rules. But we did not pay any deposited fee.’

They said ‘Some 500 filling stations have been established by investing TK 3500 crore since 2000. Alongside five crore tranportations have been converted into CNG which has reduced the air pollution and played a vital role building rural economy. But the price of electricity has been increased several times. Electricity is used as main element in producing CNG. Goverenment is yet to take any measures to level with the increased price of electricity.’

They added that government has already decreased the price of liquid oil. Steps have been taken to decrease more in the future. But it is very sorry to say that the government is trying to increase the price of CNG instead cutting the price according to liquid oil.

They said that they are demanding the proportional decrease liquid oil and CNG. They will continue their strike until the demand is met.