CNG drivers block Jamalpur-Tangail Highway over gas shortage

CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers blocked the Jamalpur-Tangail regional highway on Thursday morning (August 13), demanding an immediate restoration of normal gas supplies.

The blockade, which began at around 6:00am, triggered several kilometres of traffic congestion on both sides of the highway and caused severe disruption to commuters.

The protestors said they had been forced to spend hours in queues at CNG filling stations without receiving enough gas to operate their vehicles. With fuel shortages preventing them from working regularly, many drivers said their daily earnings had been hit hard.

“Even after waiting all night, I could not get enough gas to drive the vehicle,” auto-rickshaw driver Ashraful said. “It has become difficult to pay the daily rental and meet my family’s expenses.”

Another driver, Suruj Ali, said that irregular gas supplies were leaving many drivers without sufficient fuel. He called for the supply to be restored immediately and urged authorities to arrange an alternative solution until the crisis is resolved.

The blockade brought traffic from Jamalpur towards Tangail, Dhaka and northern districts to a standstill. Long-distance buses, trucks, pickup vans and other vehicles were stranded on the highway, while some passengers were seen getting off vehicles and walking to their destinations as congestion worsened.

Jamalpur Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Naznin Akhter said the administration was negotiating with the protesters to persuade them to withdraw the blockade and restore traffic movement.