Dhaka [Bangladesh], April 3 (ANI): The Bangladesh Government announced a series of austerity measures in response to the ongoing energy crisis, worsened by the conflict in West Asia, which include shortening office hours, closing shops earlier, and reducing government expenditures across various sectors.

In a cabinet meeting on Thursday, chaired by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, officials approved measures aimed at curbing energy consumption and minimising non-essential spending.

The Bangladeshi Government and private offices will now operate from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, while banks will allow transactions until 3:00 pm and close fully by 4:00 pm.

Shops and shopping malls are required to shut by 6:00 pm, though outlets selling essentials, eateries, and pharmacies will remain open. Decorative lighting for weddings or other celebrations has been prohibited.

The government also decided to cut expenditure on hospitality at meetings and seminars by 50 per cent, reduce domestic training programmes by half, and limit non-essential travel by 30 per cent. In a move to promote greener alternatives, government schools will be allowed to import electric buses duty-free, while commercial electric buses will face only a 20 per cent import duty.

Officials stressed that these measures are temporary and necessary to alleviate the impact of the global energy crisis on Bangladesh's economy and public services.

Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs said that it has received a request from Bangladesh for the supply of diesel, which is currently being examined by the government amid the fuel crisis in several countries across the world due to the West Asia conflict.

Other countries from the neighbourhood, including the Maldives and Sri Lanka, have also approached India.

During a weekly press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiwal, speaking on India's energy assistance to countries in the neighbourhood, said, 'India is a major exporter of refined petroleum products, especially to our neighbourhood. We have received a request from the government of Bangladesh for the supply of diesel, which is being examined.'

Underlining the people-centric and development-oriented approach to relations with Bangladesh, Jaiswal recalled how India has been supplying diesel from the Numaligarh refinery to Bangladesh since 2017 through various modes, which include waterways, rail and later through the India-Bangladesh friendship pipeline.

'A sale purchase agreement was signed in October 2017 between Numaligarh Refinery and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation for the supply of high-speed diesel on mutually agreed terms. It bears mention that whilst diesel exports to Bangladesh have largely continued since 2017, India's refining capacity, our own requirements and diesel availability will be factored in while taking decisions', he said.

'We have received requests from several other countries, including Sri Lanka and Maldives and these are being taken to be examined, taking into account our own energy requirements and availability that we have,' the MEA Spokesperson further noted. (ANI)