Bangladesh introduces new office, bank hours from Sunday to save energy

Emergency services remain outside schedule

Bangladesh is set to begin new office and banking hours from Sunday as part of measures to conserve energy amid global uncertainties.

Under the revised schedule, all government and private offices will operate from 9am to 4pm until further notice, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Saturday.

The decision follows a cabinet directive aimed at reducing electricity and fuel consumption.

Emergency services will remain outside the scope of the new schedule, while weekly holidays on Friday and Saturday will continue unchanged.

Bangladesh Bank has set bank transaction hours from 10am to 3pm, although banks and financial institutions will remain open until 4pm.

The notification added that the Supreme Court of Bangladesh will issue necessary directives regarding court hours.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will guide working hours for private sector industries and factories in line with the Bangladesh Labour Act, 2006.

The measures stem from decisions taken at a cabinet meeting on Thursday night, which also included closing markets and shopping malls after 6pm, reducing government expenditure, and suspending foreign training programmes.