Severe gas crisis hits Jamalpur vehicle drivers

JAMALPUR, Aug 15: A severe gas crisis has hit Jamalpur, leaving CNG-run auto-rickshaw and other vehicle drivers waiting at filling stations for three days without getting gas. The crisis has also disrupted cooking in households.

Drivers waiting at Javed Filling Station said thousands of drivers and workers are gathering at the station every day, but many are being forced to remain idle due to the shortage.

Abdur Rahim, 50, a CNG auto-rickshaw driver, said, “I cannot drive because there is no gas, but I still have to support my family. Many drivers operate vehicles on instalments or rentals. With no income, it has become difficult to pay instalments and meet family expenses.”

Abul Hossain, 40, a microbus driver, who was forced to run his vehicle on fuel because of the gas shortage, said, “The cost has increased, but we cannot charge passengers extra fares. So, we have to bear the losses ourselves.”

Filling station authorities also cannot say when the gas supply will return to normal. In some areas, passengers and CNG drivers are engaging in arguments over higher fares. A mobile court fined drivers for charging extra fares at a temporary CNG auto-rickshaw stand in front of the Sarishabari Shilpakala Academy.

Meanwhile, the gas shortage has also made cooking difficult in households. Moriam Begum, 38, a homemaker, said, “We have to use alternative fuel, which is increasing our household expenses.”

Another homemaker, Shahnaz Islam, 42, said, “Even after waiting since morning for gas, sometimes we cannot cook. It is very difficult to prepare food for the family. For the past two days, my husband has gone to work without eating.”

On Thursday morning, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers staged a protest and blocked the road in front of Javed Filling Station in the BSCIC area on the Jamalpur-Tangail highway, demanding gas supplies. Traffic on the highway came to a standstill, causing a several-kilometre-long tailback. Later, the administration intervened to normalise the situation. The CNG auto-rickshaw drivers have warned of a larger movement if the gas supply is not restored soon.

Jamalpur Titas Gas Manager Durjoy Khokshi said the main gas line had been shut since 10pm on Wednesday due to a problem in the national gas grid. He hoped the problem would be resolved soon and gas supplies would normalise.