STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The government yesterday announced a series of austerity measures, including curtailing office hours and early closure of shopping malls and shops, as the fallout of the US-Israel war on Iran strains the energy sector.

It also decided to cut expenditure on fuel, power, and gas for government offices by 30 percent and suspend all government-financed foreign training for civil servants until further orders.

Purchase of government vehicles, vessels, and aircraft has also been put on hold.

The decisions were made at a three-hour-long cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani told reporters after the meeting.

He said expenditure on hospitality at meetings and seminars would be reduced by 50 percent. Domestic training programmes would also be cut by 50 percent, he said, adding that non-essential travel expenses would also be cut by 30 percent.

All government and private offices will run from 9:00am to 4:00pm, while banks will conduct transactions from 9:00am to 3:00pm and close fully for the day by 4:00pm.

Shopping malls would have to close by 6:00pm from tomorrow, but outlets for essentials, eateries, and pharmacies would remain open, he said, adding that no decorative lighting would Nasimul

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