The cabinet on Monday set new timing for non-government
offices and educational and financial institutions as the government is set to
continue with the daylight saving time for an indefinite period.
The offices of government, semi-government and autonomous
agencies or institutions will, however, be functioning in accordance with the
current schedule, between 9:00am and 5:00pm.
The cabinet weekly meeting, at the cabinet division with the Prime
Minister, Sheikh Hasina, in the chair, approved the new timing following her
directive in this regard to ease traffic congestion in the capital.
Hasina at a cabinet meeting on August 31 directed the authorities
to formulate an action plan for separate timetables for government and
semi-government offices, schools, banks and markets in view of worsening
traffic situation in the city.
In keeping with the new timing, banks, insurance companies,
other financial institutions and all non-government offices will work between
10:00am and 6:00pm while government primary schools and kindergartens will
start at 9:30am and close at 4:15pm.
Secondary, higher secondary and English-medium schools and
madrassahs will start between 7:00am and 8:30am and close between 1:00pm and
2:30pm.
The authorities concerned of educational institutions will,
however, decide their respective time schedule.