Bhola Representative: In Bhola, students and locals protested, demanding the use of local gas for district development and the implementation of five key demands. On Saturday (April 19) afternoon, three covered vans carrying LPG gas belonging to Intraco Company were detained on the Bhola-Charfassion highway near the Birshreshtha Mostafa Kamal Bus Stand. From Friday night to Saturday afternoon, a total of four vehicles were detained.

The detained vehicles were kept in the helipad area adjacent to the bus stand. Police and the Sadar Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) visited the site to control the situation but failed. At night, protesters were preparing for a torchlight procession.

The protesters stated that on Friday morning, the Badwip Student Welfare Council held a human chain and rally demanding the establishment of gas-based industries in Bhola, household gas connections, and a halt to exporting Bhola’s gas, among five demands. That night, during a protest at the bus stand, one gas-carrying vehicle was detained.

It is known that in May 2023, under an agreement between Sundarban Gas Company and Intraco, Bhola’s gas has been supplied in cylinders to factories in Dhaka. After one Dhaka-bound vehicle was detained on Friday night, three more were detained on Saturday afternoon.

Bhola Sadar Model Police Station Sub-Inspector Wasib Alam said the matter has been reported to higher authorities, and actions will be taken as per their instructions. Intraco’s local officer Hafiz Uddin said the vehicles were stopped from heading to Dhaka due to the protests.

UNO Arifuzzaman and the Officer-in-Charge of the police station, Abu Sahadat Md. Hasnain Parvez, said they visited the site to control the situation. The protesters’ demands include gas-based factories in Bhola, a medical college, the Bhola-Barishal bridge, and the cancellation of Intraco’s agreement. They stated that gas will not be allowed to be taken outside Bhola until these demands are met.