Bangladesh is urgently seeking ways to address an energy crisis caused by the Middle East war's impact. The government has ordered reduced working hours and earlier mall closures, while citizens queue for hours to refuel their vehicles.
In Dhaka, Bangladesh, the government has begun enforcing strict measures to reduce energy use amid an oil and energy price crisis influenced by Middle Eastern developments. Key steps include cutting government working hours and ordering malls and stores to close earlier.
At the government administrative center, senior officials attend meetings amid energy conservation measures. The government has ordered a 30% reduction in fuel and electricity spending in public agencies, suspended some training programs, and delayed new vehicle purchases including cars, boats, and aircraft.
Additionally, the use of decorative lights for celebrations is prohibited to lower the country’s overall energy consumption.
Among the public, the energy situation has clear effects. Many gas stations in Dhaka have long queues of people waiting to refuel, with some waiting several hours due to limited and unevenly distributed fuel supplies.
One citizen said he had to drive around several gas stations before finding one with fuel available, where he then waited over an hour and a half and expects to wait several more hours to refuel.
Meanwhile, earlier mall closures affect daily life, especially for regular workers who have limited time for evening shopping. Many stores rush to close on schedule, creating a hurried atmosphere in shopping centers as people leave earlier than usual.
A school teacher reflected that although these measures cause daily hardships, they understand it is a global issue and hope the situation improves soon.
Bangladesh, with over 170 million people, is urgently seeking alternative energy sources and requires about 2.5 billion US dollars in foreign aid to import fuel, currently relying on imports for up to 95% of its total needs.
:SourceAP
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