Bangladesh mandates lights off and AC limits for civil servants to save power amid a severe energy crunch worsened by the Middle East conflict
DHAKA: Bangladesh has ordered civil servants to switch off lights and turn down air conditioning to conserve power.
The directive comes as the ongoing war in the Middle East exacerbates a severe energy crunch in the South Asian nation.
The Ministry of Public Administration issued the orders regarding office attendance and saving electricity and fuel.
“Only the necessary number of lights, fans, air conditioners, and other electrical equipment should be used,” the order stated.
It also reminded workers to turn off lights when leaving and mandated air conditioning temperatures be set at 25 degrees Celsius or warmer.
Bangladesh, a nation of 170 million people, imports 95% of its oil and gas needs.
The government is seeking loans of around USD 2 billion from multilateral donors to tackle its energy worries.
It has already taken several measures to curb fuel consumption across the economy.
These include setting limits on fuel purchases and halting production at most fertiliser factories.
Police have also been deployed to patrol filling stations to ensure compliance with the new restrictions.
