Khulna fuel traders call off strike

Fuel traders and workers withdrew their strike this evening following the assurance on the commission rate on fuel sales fixed by the government.

Sheikh Murad Hossain, general secretary of Khulna Divisional Fuel Oil Distributors Association, said, "We have decided to call off the strike as Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation authorities informed us around 7:00pm today saying that we will get the commission very soon as per the demand."

Fuel oil extraction will resume from tomorrow morning, our Khulna correspondent reports quoting Murad Hossain.

Earlier, the fuel traders and workers went on an indefinite strike this morning to press home the demand.

Following the strike, fuel extraction from Khulna's three state-owned depots -- Padma, Meghna and Jamuna -- remained totally halted since 8:00am and oil transportation in 15 districts also remained suspended.

Bangladesh Tank-lorry Owners Association, Bangladesh Fuel Oil Distributors Association, Khulna Divisional Tank-lorry Sramik Union and Padma Meghna and Jamuna Tank-lorry Sramik Kalyan Samity called the strike.

On September 26, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources issued a notification increasing the commission.

According to the gazette, the dealers will get 2.85 percent commission on sales of per litre diesel while 4.28 percent per litre octane, 4.34 percent per litre petrol, and 2 percent per litre kerosene.