CNG filling station owners announce nationwide shutdown on 30 July over 4-point demand
The association also warned that it would enforce an indefinite nationwide shutdown from 23 August if no meaningful progress is made in meeting its demands.
Highlights:
- CNG stations to remain closed for 18 hours
- Owners demand higher sales commission
- Indefinite shutdown threatened from 23 August
- Operators cite rising business costs
- Talks with government to continue
The Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association today (21 July) announced an 18-hour nationwide shutdown of CNG filling stations on 30 July, demanding a higher sales commission and implementation of three other measures.
Under the programme, all CNG filling stations across the country will remain closed from 6am to midnight.
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The association also warned that it would enforce an indefinite nationwide shutdown from 23 August if no meaningful progress is made in meeting its demands.
The announcement came at a press conference held at Akram Tower in Dhaka's Bijoynagar. Amiruzzaman Chowdhury, convener of the steering committee formed to implement the movement, read out the written statement.
The organisation said it would continue discussions with the government during the 30 July programme but would move ahead with tougher action if negotiations fail.
The association's demands include, increasing the commission on CNG sales, introducing an automatic commission adjustment mechanism whenever gas prices are raised, stopping the collection of additional security deposits from existing customers on the pretext of gas price hikes, and reducing Roads and Highways Department (RHD) lease charges and government licence fees to reasonable levels.
Association leaders said the commission on CNG sales has remained fixed at Tk8 per cubic metre since 1 September 2015.
They argued that inflation, workers' wages, spare parts costs, bank charges, RHD land lease fees and various government licence fees have risen sharply over the past 11 years, making it increasingly difficult to operate filling stations under the current commission structure.
The association has therefore demanded that the commission be raised by Tk5.96 to Tk13.96 per cubic metre.
Speaking at the press conference, Association Secretary General Farhan Noor said the demand was aimed at ensuring the viability of filling stations rather than increasing profits.
"We are not seeking excessive profits. We are asking for a commission that reflects our operating costs so that filling stations can remain financially sustainable," he said.
He said a government committee formed in 2017 had recommended an additional margin of Tk1.98 per cubic metre. Taking inflation and other rising costs into account, that margin should have increased to Tk3.70 by early 2024, he added.
According to Farhan, further increases in gas and electricity prices justified an additional Tk5.76 per cubic metre. He also noted that the latest 19% increase in electricity tariffs last June raised operating costs by another Tk0.86 per cubic metre, bringing the justified commission to Tk13.96.
The association alleged that despite repeatedly submitting letters to the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) and the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, it has received no response.
It also claimed that its leaders had been unable to secure a meeting with the relevant minister.
The organisation said it formed a 12-member steering committee at an emergency general meeting on 18 July to oversee the movement.
