Gas supply has returned to normal at Sirajganj town’s sole CNG filling station after a gruelling 43-hour suspension, bringing immense relief to hundreds of transport drivers.
The supply resumed at 6am on Friday at the Albatross Energy CNG Filling Station, located in the Diar Baidyanath area of Shialkol union under Sadar upazila.
The news of the resumption spread quickly, causing hundreds of CNG-run auto-rickshaws and other vehicles to rush to the station. This resulted in a massive, half-a-kilometre-long queue on both sides of the road. The line of vehicles stretched as far as the gate of Sirajganj Medical College on one side and reached the BRAC regional office on the other.
Earlier, the Albatross Energy CNG Filling Station had shut down at around 11am on Wednesday following a suspension in the gas pipeline supply, leading to severe difficulties for drivers reliant on the fuel. After 43 hours of closure, the pipeline was restored in the early hours of Friday, allowing the station to resume operations at 6am.
Although a temporary fluctuation in gas pressure was observed around 12pm on Friday, the situation returned to normal shortly afterwards, and gas distribution continued at standard pressure. Drivers, many of whom had waited for hours in and around their vehicles, expressed joy upon finally receiving gas.
Kiran, the manager of the Albatross Energy CNG Filling Station, confirmed that the gas line is now fully operational, pressure remains normal, and the station is regularly supplying CNG.
Station attendants (locally referred to as “lozen men” or nozzle men) Palash and Uday Sutradhar also confirmed that the pressure is stable and they are successfully dispensing gas.
For drivers, the resumption represents a vital return to livelihood. “I finally got gas after three days, and it feels great,” said Saiful Islam, a CNG auto-rickshaw driver. “I could not earn anything over these three days. We run our families by driving these auto-rickshaws; it is our only source of income. When there is no gas, our earnings stop completely”.
Another driver, Ripon, highlighted the financial toll of the suspension, explaining that he was forced to run his vehicle on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). “LPG costs Tk73 per litre, compared to CNG which is only Tk43 per litre,” Ripon said. “This dramatically increased our running costs, and we had to charge passengers a slightly higher fare. Now that CNG is available again, there is no question of charging extra.”
According to local drivers, the suspension not only hit their daily earnings but also put an unexpected financial burden on them, forcing some to use expensive LPG while others had to keep their vehicles idle for three days.
Locals noted that because this is the only CNG filling station in Sirajganj town, a large number of transport workers depend on it. Consequently, any prolonged disruption directly impacts drivers, passengers, and the wider local transport system.
While expressing relief at the restoration of supply, drivers urged the authorities to ensure an uninterrupted gas supply in the future to prevent sudden, prolonged closures. They stressed that a reliable supply is essential to keep their livelihoods stable and to protect commuters from inflated transport fares.
