Bangladesh's Universities Face Early Eid Closure Amid Energy Crisis

Bangladesh will close all universities from Monday, advancing Eid al-Fitr holidays as a measure to conserve electricity and fuel due to a worsening energy crisis linked to conflict in the Middle East. This move affects all universities and is part of broader austerity plans affecting multiple educational institutions.

In a drastic step to combat a worsening energy crisis, Bangladesh has announced the early closure of all universities, starting Monday. This measure, which brings forward the Eid al-Fitr holidays, aims to conserve crucial electricity and fuel resources amid a challenging period of supply disruptions stemming from the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict.

The closure impacts both public and private universities across the nation, a decision taken to reduce the significant electricity demands these institutions place on the national grid. The energy saved by closing university campuses, which are heavy consumers due to residential halls, laboratories, and air conditioning, is intended to relieve the stressed power system.

With extensive reliance on energy imports, Bangladesh faces severe vulnerabilities due to disruptions in global energy markets. To mitigate this, the government has imposed daily fuel sales limits and halted operations in several sectors like fertilizer production, prioritizing electricity supply stabilization. Efforts to procure costlier LNG cargoes are ongoing to address critical energy deficits.

(With inputs from agencies.)