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.
