Jamalpur Auto-Rickshaw Drivers Block Transit Route over Gas Shortage

Auto-rickshaw drivers operating compressed natural gas (CNG) powered vehicles staged a demonstration on Thursday, blocking the key Jamalpur–Tangail highway to protest against a severe local fuel shortage and to demand the establishment of new refuelling facilities.

The blockade, which commenced at approximately 6:00 am, led to extensive traffic congestion on both sides of the highway. Commuters, transport workers, and long-distance passengers found themselves stranded for hours as movement along the vital regional corridor ground to a complete halt.

According to local operators, the district’s entire fleet of CNG-driven auto-rickshaws relies almost exclusively on a single refuelling unit, the Jabed Filling Station. Data from the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) indicates that roughly 3,000 auto-rickshaws are officially registered within the district. However, drivers estimate that when accounting for unregistered vehicles and those entering from neighbouring areas, upwards of 5,000 CNG auto-rickshaws routinely compete for fuel at this lone installation.

The severe imbalance between supply infrastructure and vehicle volume has created chronic operational bottlenecks. Drivers report queuing for several hours—often overnight—only to be turned away empty-handed when the station exhausts its pressure or runs out of gas entirely.

“I had been standing in line since 2:00 am, only to be informed suddenly that there was no gas left,” explained Joynal Abedin, an auto-rickshaw driver participating in the protest. “This is not an isolated incident; it happens frequently. Operating thousands of vehicles on a single filling station is unsustainable. We lose vital income waiting in line, which is why we were forced to take to the streets. We require a permanent resolution and immediate approval for additional refuelling stations.”

The protest underscores broader challenges across Bangladesh’s public transport sector, where the push towards cleaner-burning natural gas has often outpaced the expansion of local distribution networks and supply pressure capacity. For low-income commercial drivers, prolonged downtime directly jeopardises their daily livelihood.

Law enforcement personnel arrived at the scene to manage the situation. Nazmus Sakib, Officer-in-Charge of Jamalpur Sadar Police Station, confirmed the details of the disruption. “CNG drivers blocked the highway due to ongoing gas shortages and the lack of refuelling stations,” he stated. “Police officers are present at the location, engaging in discussions with the demonstrators to explain the situation and restore normal traffic flow as swiftly as possible.”