Bangladesh has announced the early closure of all public and private universities as part of emergency measures to conserve electricity and fuel amid a deepening energy crisis, authorities said. The government said that universities will begin the Eid al‑Fitr holidays early, starting Monday, in an effort to reduce strain on the country’s fragile power system, which is facing mounting uncertainty due to disruptions in global energy markets linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Officials said university campuses consume large amounts of electricity for residential halls, classrooms, laboratories and air conditioning, and that shutting them early is expected to ease pressure on the national grid and reduce traffic‑related fuel use. With government and private schools already closed for Ramadan, most educational institutions across Bangladesh will now remain shut for the period.
The move comes as Bangladesh, which depends on imports for about 95 % of its energy needs, faces significant supply challenges. Authorities have imposed daily limits on fuel sales after panic buying and stockpiling, and have asked foreign‑curriculum schools and private coaching centres to suspend operations temporarily to further conserve electricity.
Severe gas shortages have forced the shutdown of four of the country’s five state‑run fertiliser plants, with available gas redirected to power stations to help prevent widespread outages. Bangladesh has also been buying liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the spot market at higher prices while seeking additional cargoes to bridge supply gaps. A senior energy ministry official said the government is doing “everything we can to reduce consumption and ensure stability in power, fuel and import supplies.”