CNG filling station owners in Bangladesh have called for an increase in their commission from the current rate of 8 taka to 13.96 taka per unit, warning of a nationwide movement if their demand is not met within the stipulated time frame.
The demand was formally raised on Saturday (6 June) at a press conference held in Bijoynagar, Dhaka, by leaders of the Bangladesh CNG Filling Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association. The organisation represents owners and operators involved in supplying compressed natural gas and managing conversion workshops across the country.
During the briefing, the leaders stated that although electricity is the principal input in the production and supply of CNG, the commission rate for station owners has remained unchanged since 2013. They further noted that despite this long-standing stagnation in commission structure, the sector has faced multiple increases in operational costs over the years.
According to the association, from 2015 onwards, electricity and fuel prices have been raised on seven separate occasions. They argue that these successive price adjustments have significantly increased the financial burden on CNG station operators, without any corresponding revision in their commission.
The leaders also highlighted additional cost pressures affecting the sector, including rising lease fees, licence renewal costs, general inflation, and increased import expenses due to fluctuations in the foreign exchange rate. These factors, they said, have contributed to a situation in which many CNG stations are operating at a loss.
They warned that if the commission is not revised by 30 June, the association will initiate a nationwide movement from 1 July. However, no specific details regarding the form of the proposed movement were disclosed at the press conference.
The association leaders emphasised that the existing commission structure does not reflect the current cost environment in which CNG stations operate. They reiterated that continued financial strain without adjustment could further destabilise the sector, which plays a significant role in supplying fuel for transport and other energy needs.
They concluded by urging the authorities concerned to consider their demand seriously within the stated deadline, in order to avoid disruption in operations across the country.
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