Dhaka: In order to maximise the use of
daylight and reduce electricity usage, energy-starved
Bangladesh has decided to put the clock back by an hour on
December 31 midnight.
"Clocks will be adjusted backward by an hour at 11:59
pm on December 31," an official handout said here today
referring to a cabinet decision taken at a meeting held last
night with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The statement said clocks will be advanced by an hour
on March 31 under the government's Daylight Saving Time (DST)
programme and be readjusted backward to the standard time on
October 31 every year.
With the readjustment, Bangladesh is to become GMT+6
from GMT+7 again for the next seven months.
The energy-starved nation readjusted the clock in June
this year bringing forward its Standard Time by one hour as
part of a campaign to maximise the use of daylight to reduce
electricity usages.
Energy ministry officials earlier said they expected
that around 250 megawatt could be saved with the introduction
of DST as Bangladesh is facing electricity shortage of nearly
1,500 MW.
Many countries including the United States, Canada,
most European countries, Brazil, and a few Middle-eastern
countries have introduced DST.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 25, 2009, 13:28