All petrol pumps in Sylhet division have been shut down indefinitely following complaints of “unjust” fines and alleged harassment by authorities, leaving vehicle operators and commuters struggling for fuel.
The decision was confirmed late Wednesday night by local business leaders, and all pumps have remained closed since Thursday morning.
The strike was called by Zubayer Ahmed Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents and Petrol Pump Owners Association (Sylhet divisional committee), along with general secretary Humayun Ahmed.
Pump owners claim that the deployment of tag officers, frequent audits by multiple agencies, police involvement, and fines imposed on six pumps prompted their decision to halt sales. “Under the current circumstances, operating petrol, CNG, or LPG pumps in Sylhet division has become impossible for owners,” the association said.
The closures have created widespread inconvenience. Many vehicles were forced to return without fuel, while long queues formed at some stations as drivers waited in vain. Authorities warned that continued disruptions could trigger broader public hardship due to transport shortages.
Saiful, a CNG-operated auto-rickshaw driver, said, “If pumps remain closed, we may manage to operate rickshaws until noon, but after that, no vehicles will run. Sudden closures like this put pressure on ordinary people.”
Shaheed Ullah, an employee at a pump in Ambarkhana, Sylhet, confirmed that operations have been halted since Wednesday night. “Many customers came for fuel this morning, but nothing is being supplied,” he said.
The dispute began Wednesday afternoon when several Sylhet pumps were fined for holding fuel stocks above the government-approved limit.
The fines were imposed during a joint operation by the Sylhet District Administration and RAB. Despite attempts by pump owners to meet senior officials, no resolution was reached, prompting the indefinite closure late Wednesday night.
Humayun Ahmed told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Six of our pumps were fined unfairly. The administration has ignored basic technical realities-when a pump reservoir runs low, fuel cannot be dispensed immediately, yet we were penalised. Many owners are running multiple pumps from a single tanker due to supply issues, but they still face fines. This strike is a protest against these challenges.”
He added that an emergency meeting has been called for 10:30am Thursday with petrol pump owners, CNG station operators, and tanker owners to discuss the situation.
A follow-up meeting with the Police Commissioner is also planned. “Our next steps and any further announcements will be communicated after these discussions,” Ahmed said.
