CNG Stations to Remain Open Nationwide on 30 July

The Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association has withdrawn its planned programme to keep CNG filling stations closed across the country on 30 July. As a result, all CNG filling stations are expected to remain open as usual on the scheduled date, allowing customers to purchase fuel without disruption.

The decision was announced at a press conference held on Monday at Akram Tower in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, where leaders of the association said they had reconsidered the planned shutdown in view of the ongoing gas supply crisis across the country. The withdrawal has eased immediate uncertainty for CNG-powered vehicle operators, drivers and passengers, many of whom had been concerned about access to fuel if stations remained closed.

The association had earlier announced the nationwide closure as part of a four-point demand programme. Its demands include an increase in the commission paid to CNG filling station operators, a mechanism for automatically adjusting commissions when fuel prices rise, an end to additional security deposits being imposed on existing customers following increases in gas prices, and reductions in various government fees and charges associated with operating CNG stations.

According to the association, CNG station operators currently receive a commission of Tk 8 per cubic metre of CNG sold. The owners are demanding that this be increased to at least Tk 13.96 per cubic metre. They argue that the existing commission is no longer sufficient to cover rising operating expenses, including staff wages, equipment maintenance and other costs involved in running filling stations.

The operators have also called for a system under which their commissions would be adjusted automatically whenever fuel prices are increased in the future. They contend that changes in energy prices affect the overall cost structure of their businesses and that a predictable adjustment mechanism would help operators manage their finances and plan their operations more effectively.

Another key demand concerns additional deposits sought from existing customers following increases in gas prices. The association wants this practice to be discontinued. It has also urged the authorities to reduce various government charges to a reasonable level, including fees related to land leases from the Roads and Highways Department and licence issuance and renewal charges imposed by different government agencies.

Although the 30 July closure has been withdrawn, the association has made it clear that it has not abandoned its four-point demands. The organisation has given the relevant authorities until 22 August to take effective steps towards resolving the issues.

The association’s leaders have warned that if their demands are not addressed within the stipulated timeframe, they will proceed with an indefinite nationwide closure of CNG filling stations from 23 August. The threat could potentially create significant pressure on the country’s transport system, particularly in urban areas where CNG-powered vehicles form an important part of daily public and private transport.

For now, however, the withdrawal of the 30 July programme means CNG-powered autorickshaws and other vehicles should be able to refuel normally on that day. The decision is also expected to prevent a sudden disruption to commuters and transport workers who rely on uninterrupted access to CNG.

Attention will now turn to discussions between the station owners and the relevant authorities. The coming weeks could prove crucial in determining whether a negotiated solution can be reached before the 22 August deadline and whether the threatened indefinite closure from 23 August can ultimately be avoided.