Sylhet filling stations call off strike but transport workers announce new one

Petrol and CNG refuelling stations in Sylhet called off their indefinite strike on Tuesday night after a case was filed against Sylhet District Transport Workers' Union President Salim Ahmed Falik and his cohorts for "vandalising" a CNG refuelling station at South Surma, while the transport workers announced to go on indefinite strike from Friday, protesting the case.

On Monday, the refuelling stations called for their strike protesting the attack resulted from an altercation between the head of Naiorpul microbus owners' platform Nazir Mia and an employee of South Surma CNG and Petroleum Filling Station over breaking queue at the station, said Amiruzzaman Chowdhury, general secretary of Bangladesh CNG Filling Station Owners' Association.

"The attack was on behest of Falik," alleged Amiruzzaman.

Following a meeting between representatives from the filling stations' association and Sylhet district administration on Tuesday night, the strike was called off, said Jubayer Ahmed Siddiki, president of the association's Sylhet unit, adding that the case was filed with South Surma police against around 35 transport workers and leaders including Falik.

Falik, however, denied his involvement, saying, "This is harassment. They lodged the case against me though I was not involved in the incident."

"We will go on an indefinite strike from Friday, protesting this harassment," added Falik.