On the other hand, the petrol pump owners are opposed to such an agitation programme saying that the motive behind it is to raise fuel price through creating an artificial shortage.

Bangladesh Tank-lorry Owners Association (BTOA), Bangladesh Petroleum Distribution Association (BPDA) and Bangladesh Tank-lorry Workers Union (BTWU) in a joint press conference in Dhaka yesterday threatened the strike.

They said the petroleum supplier companies under the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation now provide only 17 lakh litres against the demand for 32 lakh litres of petroleum in Dhaka division, resulting in a shortage of around 40 percent.

They also demanded of the government to pay their due commission as per the government's gazette issued early this year and establish a tank-lorry terminal at Godnail and Fatulla depots.

"If the government does not implement our demands by Monday (today), we will not be pumping out petroleum from Godnail and Fatulla depots for indefinite time from Tuesday, even we will stop delivery of fuel for Biman," said Fazlul Haque, general secretary of BTOA, while reading a joint statement at the press conference.

He said although the government has increased supply of diesel in the northern region, it still continues rationing in supplying petroleum in Dhaka division. Lamenting that the reality does not reflect the government's version, the BTOA executive said,"While we are facing a crisis in petroleum in the Dhaka region, the energy advisor, BPC and petroleum companies are saying that there is no shortage of petroleum."

Among others, BPDA President Abdur Rahman and BTWU President Abdul Matin were present at the press conference.

Meanwhile, the anti-strike group, Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association (BPPOA), alleged that a vested quarter has threatened to call strike aiming to create a panic among the people.

The BPPOA leaders have voiced determination of the petrol pump owners to continue their service as they consider the agitation programme unnecessary.

They, however, sought support from the law enforcement agencies in discharging their duties fearing that the strikers can resort to untoward activities to make their strike a success by hook or by crook.

"When a little bit shortage of petroleum is prevailing in the northern region, what is the significance of calling strike in Dhaka?" Nazmul Haque, the BPPOA president, expressed his wonder at a separate press conference at a city hotel.

He alleged that calling such strike they want to raise fuel price through creating an artificial shortage and also want to gain windfall profit by selling the petroleum they have stocked earlier in an illegal way.

"Smuggling is a major factor that contributed to the present petroleum shortage in the country and the strikers themselves are involved with the smuggling," Nazmul said.

He also informed the press that the law enforcers has recently seized illegal oil depots and a stock of 18,000 litres of petroleum inside the residence of Sazzatul Karim Kabul, former secretary general of BPDA, which called a similar strike in May this year.