The Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association has called for an indefinite strike in 16 districts of Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions in response to the Roads and Highways Department's eviction of several petrol pumps without “prior notice,” leading to a fuel crisis.
As a result of this sudden strike, all petrol pumps in the region were closed on Wednesday, leading to a halt in inter-district and regional transport.
With petrol pumps closed in Rangpur city, hundreds of motorcyclists and car owners struggled to find fuel, visiting multiple stations only to return empty-handed.
Many petrol pump employees claimed they were unaware of the reason for the strike and were simply following the owners' instructions to keep the pumps closed.
Salahuddin, a government employee from Lalmonirhat, expressed frustration, saying he had visited several petrol pumps since morning but found all of them closed.
"I cannot travel to Lalmonirhat now; I am in serious trouble. Shutting down petrol pumps without prior notice is inhumane," he said.
Similarly, Shahjahan, another office worker, shared his distress. He said he had planned to travel to Saidpur but had been unable to do so due to the petrol pump closures.
He was with his young child on a motorcycle which had run out of fuel, leaving him uncertain about what to do next.
Hundreds of vehicles were stuck, causing immense suffering for travellers.
Shamsul Alam, organizational secretary of the local petrol pump owners association, confirmed that the strike was a collective decision taken by the association.
