Bangladesh to reduce working hours for schools, banks to battle energy crisis | World News - Hindustan Times
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Bangladesh to reduce working hours for schools, banks to battle energy crisis

AP | | Posted by Yagya Sharma
Aug 23, 2022 07:04 PM IST

Government offices and banks will cut their work days to seven hours from the previous eight hours, but private offices will be allowed to set their own schedules. Supply disruptions caused by the Ukraine war have led to soaring world prices for energy and food.

Schools in Bangladesh will close an additional day each week and government offices and banks will shorten their work days by an hour to reduce electricity usage amid concerns over rising fuel prices and the impact of the Ukraine war.

In Bangladesh, most schools are closed on Fridays but now will also close on Saturdays, said an official of the government.(Representational image/AFP)
In Bangladesh, most schools are closed on Fridays but now will also close on Saturdays, said an official of the government.(Representational image/AFP)

The reduced hours take effect Wednesday. In Bangladesh, most schools are closed on Fridays, but now will also close on Saturdays, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said Monday.

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He said government offices and banks will cut their work days to seven hours from the previous eight hours, but that private offices will be allowed to set their own schedules.

What lead the government to this decision?

Supply disruptions caused by the Ukraine war have led to soaring world prices for energy and food.

The country has been suffering more frequent power cuts after the government suspended operations of all diesel-run power plants, reducing daily electricity production by 1,000 megawatts.

Bangladesh’s foreign currency reserves have dwindled to around $40 billion.

Steps taken to bring the situation under control

Bangladesh has been taking measures in recent weeks to ease pressure on its declining foreign currency reserves. Last month, fuel prices were raised by more than 50%. The government says it is exploring options to get cheaper fuel from Russia under a special arrangement.

But authorities have promised to continue supplying power to industrial zones to help support the country’s $416 billion economy, which has been growing rapidly over the last decade.

In July, Bangladesh sought an unspecified loan from the International Monetary Fund, becoming the third country in South Asia to do so recently after Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Rahul Anand, division chief in the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department, said in a recent consultation that Bangladesh was not in a crisis situation and its external position was “very different from several countries in the region.”

“Bangladesh has a low risk of debt distress and is very different from Sri Lanka,” he was quoted as saying by the Dhaka-based The Business Standard Daily.

Criticism of the government

The decision has drawn criticism, but the government said it is necessary to cut losses amid rising international fuel prices. Small street protests against the higher prices have taken place in recent weeks, and the government said domestic prices will be adjusted after international prices ease.

The country’s opposition has accused the government of failing to control corruption and eliminate losses in the energy sector.

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