Fuel station owners in Bangladesh have called off a planned nationwide shutdown of CNG stations that was due to take place on July 30, but have warned of an indefinite shutdown next month if their demands are not met.

The Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association announced the withdrawal on Monday at a press briefing in Dhaka. All CNG stations across the country will remain open on July 30 as a result.
Association leaders said the decision to call off the shutdown was influenced by the ongoing gas shortages affecting the country.

The association has now given the government until August 22 to address four key demands. If the demands are not met by then, station owners say they will proceed with an indefinite nationwide shutdown starting August 23.

The demands include an increase in the commission paid on CNG sales from Tk8 to Tk13.96 per cubic metre, and the introduction of an automatic mechanism to adjust commissions whenever fuel prices rise.

Station owners are also calling for an end to additional security deposits charged to existing customers after gas price increases, as well as a reduction in lease, licensing and renewal fees imposed by government agencies.