They went on strike Saturday evening and stopped lifting diesel from depots of Padma, Jamuna and Meghna oil companies in protest against sudden decision of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) to reduce supply of the fuel to 15 lakh litres from 21 lakh litres a day from Saturday morning.

The decision to call off strike was taken following assurance of the Energy Advisor to look into their problem. He is scheduled to come to Khulna today to resolve the crisis, said sources in the dealers associations.

Owners of petrol pumps said that they so long got 9,000 litres of diesel a day from the three oil companies. But it was slashed to 6000 litres Saturday evening.

There are 700 petrol pumps in Khulna division.

Hundreds of tank lorries from 10 districts in Khulna division and from greater Faridpur were seen waiting yesterday in front of depots of the three oil companies to lift their previous quota of diesel.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Petroleum Product Dealers' Association Syed Sajjadul Karim told The Daily Star that BPC's decision to reduce supply of diesel will severely hit Irri-Boro cultivation in south-western districts.