The acute gas crisis in the capital is cutting into the earnings of CNG and rented-car drivers, who depend on carrying passengers for their daily income.
With gas supplies dwindling, drivers are spending hours waiting in long queues at CNG filling stations instead of making trips. As a result, they are losing valuable working hours and fares while their vehicle payments and other daily expenses continue.
The reduced gas supply has created severe shortages at CNG filling stations in different parts of the capital. Long queues of vehicles are forming at the stations from early morning and at different times throughout the day. Many drivers are waiting for hours without getting gas.
The situation is not only reducing drivers’ earnings but also disrupting normal transport services.
A visit to Uttara, Abdullahpur, the airport area, Khilkhet, Badda, Rampura, Mirpur, Gabtoli and surrounding areas on Monday found that the gas crisis, which has persisted for several days, has become more severe.
Even when stations were unable to supply gas, CNG and rented-car drivers were seen waiting in long queues in the hope of getting fuel.
Drivers said their suffering has increased several times as they have to spend long periods waiting for gas. With fewer hours available to carry passengers, they are making fewer trips and earning less.
Passengers and others involved in the transport sector are also facing difficulties as drivers cannot reach destinations on time.
Many drivers said a large part of their working day is now being spent waiting at filling stations because of the gas shortage. This is reducing their income, increasing vehicle operating costs and putting them under additional pressure.
As their earnings fall, they are also struggling to pay the daily amount they owe vehicle owners.
CNG driver Md Mona said he had been waiting in line since 4am.
“I have to take money from my instalments to pay the CNG owner. I have been in the queue since 4am, but still have not got gas. How will I pay the vehicle owner, and how will I run my family? I have to pay the house rent soon,” he said.
Another CNG driver, Jahangir, said he has to pay Tk1,200 to the vehicle owner every day.
“Gas costs around Tk500. Besides that, I spend Tk200 to Tk250 a day. Altogether, I have to spend Tk1,500 to Tk2,000. I have had no income for the past two months because I cannot get gas,” he said.
‘No gas at all for several days’
Kamal, manager of MA Masud Filling Station, said the station had sufficient gas four or five days ago.
“After that, there was no gas at all for several days. Although some gas was supplied last night, the crisis has emerged again,” he said.
He said there was not enough gas pressure for regular supply.
“The valve at our station does not open at low pressure. As a result, stations whose valves can operate at low pressure are receiving some gas,” he said.
Some gas is currently available, particularly at night, while gas pressure starts increasing somewhat in the afternoon, Kamal added.
Tarek, an employee of Akij CNG Station, said there was no good news regarding the gas situation.
“There is no good news regarding gas. We do not know when it will be fixed. Although gas was supplied at night, we could not provide gas throughout the day,” he said.
Abdullah, an employee of Zaman Station, said: “The situation is very bad. After supplying gas at night, we did not get any gas throughout the day.”
Rented-car driver Sanaullah said drivers were going through very difficult times.
“We are going through very difficult times now. We cannot work, but our expenses are continuing as usual,” he said.
“If we cannot drive our vehicles, how will we survive?”
Drivers said thousands of their colleagues could be left without work if the situation does not improve soon.
They said their livelihoods depend on carrying passengers in gas-powered vehicles. With drivers unable to operate their vehicles because of the gas shortage, their daily earnings are being hit.
They urged the government to take immediate steps to improve the situation.
LNG shortage
The gas crisis emerged following delays in unloading liquefied natural gas (LNG) due to maintenance work at an LNG terminal in Maheshkhali, coupled with reduced gas supply to the national grid.
The situation has affected residential consumers, CNG drivers and people involved in the industrial sector.
However, the government has said the crisis is expected to ease considerably within a few days.