DHAKA: Bangladeshis began a shorter working week on Sunday as part of new austerity measures to curb energy consumption in the nation whose power supplies have been strained by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
A country of 170 million people, which relies on imports for 95 percent of its energy needs, Bangladesh has for years been vulnerable to disruptions in global energy markets.
After more than a month and a half without crude oil imports from the Middle East due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government shortened office hours for the public and private sector to 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and banking services to 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to reduce electricity use.
It also ordered reduced power consumption in marketplaces and urged limits on lighting in both public and private spaces.
“The government has urged the people to practice austerity in fuel consumption round the clock,” Energy Joint Secretary Monir Hossain Chowdhury told Arab News.
“To save fuel, we should focus only on basic and urgent needs, while non-essential activities can remain paused for now. This will help reduce fuel and energy consumption. Every citizen must support this initiative. If one light is enough, why switch on five?”
Although there are no specified penalties for breaking the new rules, the Ministry of Home Affairs will take “necessary steps” to implement them, Chowdhury said.
“In the coming days, there might be a few more instructions.”
New austerity measures for industrial units and factories in the private sector are expected to be announced in the coming days by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, while the Ministry of Education will announce new rules for schools.
Starting from Sunday, markets and shopping centers must shut by 7 p.m. Some relaxation will be allowed ahead of the Bengali New Year on April 14 — a major retail season in Bangladesh.
“The government has also promised similar concessions for us during the Eid Al-Adha celebrations if the war situation is prolonged,” said Mohammad Helal Uddin, president of the Shop Owners Association.
“If the government’s decision is not followed, shop owners will have to pay fines, which will be monitored by the police and electricity authorities. I hope all shop owners will voluntarily support this austerity initiative, given the current global energy crisis. This crisis has ripple effects on agriculture, transport, electricity, and more. We must all participate in these austerity measures, just as we did during the COVID-19 period.”
