United News of Bangladesh

Most Americans will "spring forward" for daylight saving time this Sunday, losing an hour of sleep a change that can leave people tired, irritable, and even impact their health. The shift in daylight darker mornings and longer evenings can disrupt the body’s internal clock, potentially causing sleep problems for days or weeks. Research shows a slight increase in heart attacks and strokes immediately after the March time change. Daylight saving time begins at 2 a.m. Sunday, and clocks will “fall back” on Nov. 1. Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not observe the spring switch. Globally, many countries also follow daylight saving time, though start and end dates vary. Experts recommend getting morning sunlight to help reset the circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep and alertness. The extra evening light from daylight saving time delays melatonin release, making it harder to fall asleep. Sleep deprivation can affect heart health, metabolism, stress levels, and cognitive functions. The change also temporarily increases risks on the road, with more fatal crashes reported in the days after the shift, particularly in the morning. Heart attacks and strokes also see a small rise, possibly due to disrupted circadian rhythms combined with existing risk factors. To adjust, sleep specialists suggest morning sunlight, shifting daily routines like meals and exercise earlier, avoiding late naps and caffeine, and reducing evening exposure to screens. Although there have been repeated calls to end the time change including former President Donald Trump’s promise  health experts recommend sticking with standard time year-round, which better matches human biology and supports more consistent sleep.

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Wednesday said the new office timings for the government and autonomous offices is not permanent. “This schedule will remain in force until further notice,” said the state minister at the Secretariat in a deal signing ceremony between Sunlife Insurance Company and Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF). He said the day time is very long now. “We want to use the daylight.” Farhad said this schedule will be readjusted later. The new timings (8am-3pm), effective from Wednesday, meant the offices will start early by an hour. The officers and employees have welcomed this initiative spontaneously joining work as per the new schedule, he said. Read:Office timing rescheduled for 8:00am to 3:00pm to save electricity Regarding the conflict between the timings of offices and schools, Farhad said private offices and financial institutions are operating from 9 am. “But the situation we have observed today is tolerable and the government’s decision is correct.” In the new timings, the workflow at the offices will be increased, he said. There will be no pending work and no disruption in services, hoped the state minister. BSRF general secretary Masudul Hoque presided over the event along with the organisation’s president Tapan Biswas. On Monday, the government rearranged the office timings from 8:00am to 3:00pm for all the government and autonomous offices and from 9:00am to 4:00pm for all banks in a bid to save electricity amid short supply. Besides, there would be two weekly holidays in the educational institutions, Cabinet Secretariat Khandker Anwarul Islam said after a Cabinet meeting. In the meeting, the Cabinet asked the power, energy and mineral resources ministry to ensure the uninterrupted electricity supply in the rural areas from midnight to dawn for the next 10-15 days so that the irrigation is not hampered.