CNG-powered auto-rickshaw drivers have protested by blocking the Jamalpur-Tangail highway, demanding the installation of new gas pumps in Jamalpur and resolving the ongoing gas crisis. This has created long queues of vehicles on both sides of the highway. Ordinary passengers and drivers of other vehicles have been suffering.
CNG drivers have been protesting by blocking the highway since 6 am on Thursday (August 13).
Talking to drivers, it was learned that for a long time, only one gas pump called Javed Filling Station in Jamalpur supplied CNG. In contrast, there are about 3,000 CNG registered with BRTA. In addition, the total number of CNGs circulating in the district, including CNG from outside, is about 5,000.
Drivers complain that since there is only one gas pump in front of a large number of CNG stations, they have to stand in long lines every day. Even then, there is often not enough gas available. Due to the gas shortage, drivers have to wait for hours but return empty-handed. This has caused them to suffer greatly due to loss of income and livelihood.
CNG driver Joynal Abedin said, “I have been standing in line since 2 am. Suddenly I heard that there is no gas. This is not just today’s problem, it happens sometimes. There is so much CNG in Jamalpur, but there is only one gas pump. On the one hand, there is a gas shortage, and on the other hand, there is a pump, so we have to stand in line for a long time. So we were forced to block the road. We want a new gas pump and a permanent solution to the gas shortage.”
Jamalpur Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nazmus Shakib said, “CNG drivers have blocked the highway due to gas pumps and gas shortage. We are talking to them at the scene. We are trying to convince them to normalize traffic.”
