Reeling from macroeconomic shockwaves triggered by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, authorities in Dhaka have activated emergency national protocols aimed at sharply reducing domestic power consumption.
With the U.S.-Israeli war involving Iran sending global fuel markets into turmoil, the South Asian nation has been forced to alter daily life in a bid to stretch rapidly dwindling energy reserves.
Following an emergency cabinet session on Thursday, the government approved a sweeping package of austerity measures to stabilise an increasingly fragile domestic energy situation. Heavily reliant on maritime fuel imports, Bangladesh is acutely exposed to price volatility and supply chain disruption across global energy markets.
The most immediate impact of the government’s conservation strategy is a significant reduction in working hours. Under newly gazetted rules, all government offices and state institutions will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Commercial activity faces even tighter restrictions. Markets, shopping centres and retail hubs must close by 6:00 p.m., a move expected to hit the informal economy hard. In densely populated Dhaka, where evening trade is vital, the curbs could affect millions of small business owners and daily wage earners.
The disruption extends into the education sector. The education ministry is preparing emergency guidelines for schools, due to be issued on Sunday. Officials are considering shifting a large portion of lessons online to reduce electricity demand, echoing measures used during the pandemic.
Timetables are also expected to be adjusted to maximise daylight hours. In a parallel long-term initiative, the government has approved duty-free imports of electric buses for school transport, alongside financial incentives for institutions adopting greener options.
Despite these measures, public anxiety is rising. Over the past two weeks, fears of fuel shortages have triggered panic buying and hoarding across major cities.
In response, authorities have introduced fuel rationing. Vehicle fuel sales have been restricted, petrol station hours reduced, and monitoring teams deployed to manage long queues. While demand eased slightly during recent religious holidays, officials warned on Friday that supplies remain critically tight.
Beyond daily disruption, the crisis has triggered a broader macroeconomic emergency. Bangladesh, home to around 175 million people, has built its recent economic growth - driven largely by garment exports - on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and diesel.
The conflict involving Iran has driven up shipping insurance, risk premiums and global commodity prices, pushing fuel import costs to unsustainable levels. State energy agencies are scrambling to secure alternative supplies outside the Persian Gulf, but face a highly competitive and costly global market.
To preserve state finances, the government has ordered immediate cuts to non-essential public spending across all ministries. It has also instructed industries to reduce energy consumption.
Factories have been told to limit lighting and shift non-essential production to off-peak hours to avoid widespread power outages. However, officials acknowledge that domestic conservation alone cannot offset soaring import costs.
Rising energy prices are placing severe pressure on Bangladesh’s already fragile foreign exchange reserves. The government is now seeking more than $2.5 billion in emergency financing from international lenders and partner nations.
The funding is needed to cover short-term fuel and LNG imports. Economists warn that failure to secure it could trigger a balance-of-payments crisis, forcing deeper industrial shutdowns, damaging exports, and increasing unemployment.
The situation highlights the far-reaching economic consequences of the Middle Eastern conflict for developing economies far beyond the region.
The United States launched a seventh consecutive night of strikes on Iran as Tehran targeted U.S. allies in the Gulf, while tensions remain high in th...
Uzbekistan and Italy's Tuscany region have agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education and culture following talks between President ...
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime ca...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 16th of July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
More than 500 people are feared to have died after two boats carrying mostly Rohingya refugees are believed to have capsized off the coast of Myanmar, according to the United Nations.
At least 44 people have died and more than one million have been stranded due to widespread flooding and landslides across southeastern Bangladesh, authorities said on Saturday (11 July).
Heavy monsoon rains triggered deadly landslides at Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, killing at least eight people, including children, and forcing authorities to evacuate residents from high-risk areas early on Monday.
The half-time interval during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final is expected to be extended to around 30 minutes to accommodate the tournament’s first-ever major half-time concert.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
Nineteen years ago, at Barcelona's Camp Nou, Lionel Messi posed for a charity photo shoot with a five-month-old baby he had never met. On Sunday, that baby, Lamine Yamal, will face Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as Spain take on Argentina. A full-circle football story.
The U.S. military said it completed a sixth consecutive night of strikes on Iran late on Thursday, targeting logistics infrastructure and maritime capabilities. Iran responded by launching strikes at U.S. bases in neighbouring countries.
SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
Aid organisations in Afghanistan are struggling to keep women in work as Taliban restrictions force them to spend more on male guardians, transport and separate workplaces, a June 2026 survey has found.
Iran's space programme is advancing with new communications, radar and Earth observation satellites despite conflict and sanctions, the head of the Iranian Space Agency has said. He also outlined expanded international cooperation and a revised long-term strategy.
Uzbekistan and Italy's Tuscany region have agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment, education and culture following talks between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tuscany Governor Eugenio Giani in Tashkent.
Iran struck eastern Syria on Friday, Iranian state media and a Syrian military source said, in the first known attack by Tehran on Syrian territory since a regional war erupted earlier this year.
Disruptions to shipping through the Gulf are creating an unexpected opportunity for Pakistan, as conflict around the Strait of Hormuz prompts vessels to divert cargo to Karachi, reshaping regional maritime trade.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment