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Published : 21 May 2025, 07:27 PM
Residents of Kajla have lifted their blockade on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway after police promised to shut a CNG station centre in response to their demands for stable gas connection.
The protest, which began around 11am on Wednesday, was called off after police promised that the local refuelling would remain shut for the next 15 days.
Traffic resumed on the highway around 2pm after a three-hour gridlock.
Locals blamed the recently opened refuelling station near Kajla intersection for the gas shortage.
Residents allege that the new machines at the station are drawing so much gas from the pipeline that there is little left for residential use.
While some gas used to be available in the evening before, no one in the area has been able to light stoves since Thursday.
In protest, the local youth urged residents to join their demonstration on the street, leading to a gathering of around 100 people that brought traffic to a halt.
The situation escalated into a verbal altercation between demonstrators and police. Protesters said they would not vacate the road until the gas issue was resolved.
The police then promised to close the station temporarily.
Setara Khatun, a homemaker, told bdnews24.com that she used to cook at night to keep lunch ready for her banker husband, who leaves home at 7am.
When the gas crisis began, Setara had to buy a cylinder and a compatible stove to cook for her family.
Another resident, Jasim Uddin, said he had no other option but to protest, as his calls and complaints to Titas Gas went unanswered.
Initially, Titas Gas did not make any announcements or notifications about the disruption in gas supply.
However, once the blockade started, they sent out a message saying that gas supply would be suspended from 1pm to 6pm on both sides of the Dholairpar to Dania Shonir Akhra road.
It also warned of low pressure in surrounding areas.
Mohibul Islam from the emergency service unit of Titas Gas told bdnews24.com that areas like Jatrabari are not receiving enough gas due to low pressure in the main supply line.
On the promise of closing the CNG station, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Harun or Rashid said his officers went to the scene to manage the situation, not to make any commitments.
