Has IMF’s war on fuel subsidies pushed Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh in a tight spot?
Photo : IANS
The shut plants account for about 6% of Bangladesh’s total power generation capacity of 23,000 megawatts. Natural gas, locally produced and imported, generates nearly three-quarters of the total.
Schools usually open six days a week and are closed on Fridays but the education ministry announced that they will now be shut on Saturdays as well.
Government agencies will open from 0800-1500 instead of the usual 0900-1700 while banks will open from 0900-1600 rather than 1000-1800, starting on Wednesday. Private offices can set their opening hours as per their requirements, Islam said.
The government will provide uninterrupted power to villages for irrigation from midnight to morning, he said.
Earlier this month, the government raised oil prices by as much as 51.7%, sparking protests by students and opposition parties in the country of 165 million people.
The government has also announced staggered weekly holidays for factories to save power.
The government has also placed curbs on imports of luxury goods and liquefied natural gas.
