The Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association has announced a nationwide shutdown of CNG filling stations on July 30 unless the government raises the sales commission on compressed natural gas (CNG).
The association demanded that the commission be increased from Tk 8 to Tk 13.96 per cubic metre.
The announcement came at a press conference held at the association’s office in Akram Tower in the capital on Tuesday. Amiruzzaman Chowdhury, convener of the steering committee formed to implement the movement, read out a written statement.
He said all CNG filling stations across the country would remain closed from 6:00am to 12:00 midnight on July 30.
If the demand is not met, the association will launch an indefinite nationwide strike from August 23, he added.
Association President Manoranjan Bhakta, General Secretary Farhan Noor and other central leaders were present at the press conference.
The association leaders said inadequate gas pressure had significantly increased electricity consumption at filling stations, pushing up operating costs.
“We were encouraged to invest in the CNG sector. Now, due to low gas pressure and rising costs, we are in a difficult situation. We can neither continue operating profitably nor shut down our businesses,” they said.
The leaders also alleged that they had been pressing for a revision of the commission since 2013 but successive government assurances had not been implemented.
They said electricity tariffs had been raised seven times over the years, increasing operating expenses, while the commission remained unchanged, forcing station owners to incur losses.
According to the association, a government committee formed after a strike in 2013 had recommended increasing the commission by Tk 1.98 per cubic metre. However, only Tk 1 was added at the time.
The association claimed that subsequent increases in electricity prices, currency depreciation and other operational costs have made a further increase of Tk 5.96 per cubic metre necessary, including Tk 2.46 to offset higher electricity expenses and Tk 3.50 for other operating costs.
The leaders warned that continuing operations would not be financially viable unless the commission is revised.