The Bangladesh government has ordered the closure of universities nationwide to conserve electricity and fuel due to the escalating conflict in West Asia causing a global energy crisis. The Ministry of Education directive mandates the holiday closure until the end of the Eid al-Fitr holiday as per academic calendars. To address the crisis, officials and employees in both public and private universities are urged to act responsibly and efficiently in energy usage.
The Ministry of Education has issued an 11-point directive, including measures like limiting the use of vehicles allocated by the Cabinet Division, to save electricity and fuel. The energy crisis is a result of the West Asia conflict that intensified following US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites, leading to retaliatory attacks by Iran. Bangladesh is now feeling the impact of the global energy market volatility due to the conflict.
As the tension in West Asia continues, Bangladesh is witnessing the effects with fuel stations in major cities like Dhaka and Chattogram witnessing long queues as people rush to buy fuel amid fears of shortages. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial energy supply route, has raised concerns about disruptions in fuel and LNG supplies, crucial for transport, industry, and households in Bangladesh. The uncertainty in global energy flows is causing anxiety among consumers in the country.
