Fuel station vandalised in Natore over delay in fuel supply

A petrol station in Natore’s Baraigram upazila has suspended fuel sales after being vandalised following a dispute over delayed fuel distribution.

The incident took place at Kanon Filling Station in the Ahammadpur area around 1:30am on Thursday (April 16).

According to station employees, the outlet had received around 9,000 litres of diesel, after which sales began as usual on Thursday evening. However, during the night, staff members reportedly went for a meal break when a local truck driver, Abdul Ohab, demanded immediate refuelling.

When asked to wait for a short while, he allegedly became angry and vandalised the cashier’s room and the manager’s office, damaging furniture and equipment. He fled the scene before police arrived.

Cashier Fazar Ali said he had been working in fuel sales for 25 years but had never experienced such behaviour from a customer.

“Because of a slight delay in fuel supply, he carried out extensive vandalism and also assaulted staff. We demand justice,” he said.

However, the accused driver denied the allegations, claiming he had been waiting for hours to refuel his truck. He alleged that the pump was supplying fuel continuously to a brick kiln vehicle in violation of rules and said he only protested against irregularities, not vandalism.

Station owner Dhiren Saha said he was present at the site and confirmed that the driver vandalised property and harassed staff after being unable to get immediate fuel.

He added that the incident had been reported to police and the petrol pump owners’ association, and fuel sales would remain suspended until justice is served.

On the issue of supplying fuel to brick kiln vehicles, he said they were regular customers and supplying them fuel was part of their service, adding that vandalism could not be justified.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration) in Natore, Iftekhar Ahmed, said police had visited the scene after receiving the complaint and legal action against the accused was underway.