Bangladesh Bank (BB) on Wednesday issued a set of directives to scheduled banks to practice austerity in the use of electricity and fuel, including a call for bankers to opt for public transport instead of private cars.

The central bank cited the ongoing Middle East crisis and its subsequent impact on the international fuel supply chain as the primary reasons for enforcing these energy-saving measures.

According to the circular, banks have been instructed to be economical in using fuel for both institutional and personal purposes. To reduce oil consumption, bankers are encouraged to use public transport and explore vehicle-sharing arrangements where possible.

Central bank officials noted that a significant portion of private vehicles on the capital's roads belong to bank employees. By shifting to public transport, the pressure on national fuel reserves is expected to decrease.

The directive also laid out specific rules for office environments to minimize power consumption:

The temperature of ACs in bank offices must not be set below 25 degrees Celsius.

Lighting: Excessive or unnecessary decorative lighting in bank buildings has been prohibited.

Promotional digital boards and building illuminations must strictly follow designated schedules and restrictions.

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Lights, fans, and other electronic appliances must be switched off immediately when not in use.

The circular also emphasized the judicious use of fuel for electricity generators. The central bank believes these precautionary steps will help mitigate the impact of global energy price volatility on the country's economy.

Banks have been asked to implement these measures across their head offices, branches, and sub-branches with immediate effect.