Dhaka: The government has decided to reduce office hours and introduce a series of austerity measures to address the ongoing global energy crisis triggered by instability in the Middle East.
According to United News of Bangladesh, these decisions were made during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Following the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed reporters about the new directives. Under the revised schedule, all government and private offices will operate from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm starting Sunday, with banking hours set from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, closing by 4:00 pm.
Ghani highlighted that the meeting primarily focused on tackling the volatility in fuel and energy prices resulting from global supply chain disruptions due to the Middle East conflict. As part of these energy-saving measures, all shops, markets, and shopping malls are required to close by 6:00 pm. However, essential service outlets like hotels, pharmacies, and kitchen markets are exempt from this rule. Specific directives for educational institutions will be announced by Sunday.
The government is set to implement these austerity measures for the next three months to reduce public expenditure. During this period, no new purchases of vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, or computer equipment will be made. Internal training programs will be reduced by 50 percent, and all government-funded foreign training is suspended until further notice. Expenditure on meetings and seminars will also be halved.
Ghani noted that the government aims to cut spending on fuel, electricity, and gas by 30 percent, along with a 30 percent reduction in unnecessary travel expenses. Furthermore, decorative lighting at social events, including weddings, is prohibited as part of the energy-saving efforts.
Efforts are also being made to secure a stable fuel supply by increasing imports from alternative sources such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan. Additionally, the government plans to introduce electric buses for school students, allowing educational institutions to import these buses duty-free, with a 20 percent duty applicable for commercial imports. Only new buses will be allowed, prohibiting the import of used buses.
The Cabinet meeting, which typically takes place at the Secretariat, was held at the Jatiya Sangsad complex due to the ongoing parliamentary session and concluded late in the evening.