Govt to cut power use by 25% at public offices

The government has decided to reduce the use of electricity by 25 percent at all its offices to save power for future.

The decision came at an emergency meeting of secretaries of all ministries and departments held at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.

Dr Ahmad Kaikaus, principal secretary to the Prime Minister and senior secretary to the PMO Md Tofazzal Hossain Mia briefed reporters after the meeting.

Some other decisions were also taken at the meeting as part of the government's austerity measures. These are:

1. All ministries will take necessary steps to reduce power consumption by 25 per cent at all government offices.

2. The Finance Division will publish a gazette to use 20 per cent less fuel allocated for the concerned offices.

3. Online meetings will have to be organised and physical meetings should be avoided unless those are not urgent ones.

4.  Foreign travels should be avoided unless those are for important reasons.

5. Strengthening measures against hoarders and ensure market monitoring to keep the prices of daily essentials including food stable.

6. Primary and Mass Education Ministry will take necessary actions to rationalize the use of private vehicles for transporting the students of educational institutions.

7. National Board of Revenue (NBR) will have to take initiatives to increase internal resources collection from the beginning of the fiscal year.

8. Every ministry will take initiative to reduce revenue expenditure by reviewing purchase plan.

NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Munim, Water Resources Ministry Senior Secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, Public Administration Ministry Senior Secretary KM Ali Azam, and Finance Division Senior Secretary Fatima Yasmin participated in the meeting, among others.