Banking hours cut amid efforts to conserve fuel, transactions from 10am-3pm

Central bank trims customer hours by an hour

Bangladesh Bank has revised banking hours, setting customer transactions from 10am to 3pm amid energy concerns.

Banks will remain open for official work until 5pm, the central bank announced on Saturday.

Previously, transactions continued until 4pm, while banks stayed open until 6pm.

The decision follows the government’s newly announced office schedule, under which public offices will operate from 9am to 4pm to reduce energy use.

The move comes amid a broader push to save fuel and electricity as global energy markets remain under strain due to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government also decided that shops, markets and shopping centres will close by 6pm as part of the conservation measures.

Authorities say Bangladesh is facing mounting pressure in securing fuel supplies, with long queues reported at filling stations across the country.

Reports of illegal fuel stockpiling have also emerged, prompting enforcement drives.

Alongside conservation efforts, the government is exploring alternative sources of energy from beyond the Middle East.

After Thursday’s meeting, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said the following measures will be taken:

• Government spending will be reduced over the next three months.

• No new vehicles, vessels, aircraft, or computer equipment will be purchased during this period.

• Internal training will be cut by 50 percent.

• All foreign training funded by the government is suspended until further notice.

• Spending on meetings and seminars will be reduced by 50 percent.

• Government expenditure on energy, electricity, and gas will be cut by 30 percent.

• Unnecessary travel costs will be reduced by 30 percent.