Owners of compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations on Tuesday announced a nationwide shutdown of all CNG filling stations on 30 July, demanding an increase in commission rates.
The shutdown will be observed from 6am to 12midnight, the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association announced at a press conference held at its office in the Bijoynagar area of the capital.
The association also warned of an indefinite nationwide closure of all filling stations from 23 August if its demand remains unmet.
The owners are seeking to raise the existing commission to a minimum of Tk13.96 per cubic metre. However, they said discussions with the government would continue alongside the planned protest programmes.
Association leaders said the commission for filling stations was last fixed at Tk8 per cubic metre on 1 September, 2015.
Over the past 11 years, they argued, soaring inflation, higher minimum wages, rising prices of machinery and spare parts, and increased bank guarantee and lease costs have placed severe financial pressure on the sector.
