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Trading hours at Bangladesh’s stock exchanges have been reduced by 30 minutes as part of government measures to save electricity and fuel.
Under the new schedule effective Sunday, trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chattogram Stock Exchange will run from 10am to 2pm, according to a notification issued by the DSE, bdnews24.com reports.
The post-closing session will take place from 1:56pm to 2pm, while official activities will continue from 9am to 4pm.
Previously, trading hours were from 10am to 2:30pm.
The move comes amid pressure on energy supplies triggered by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which has disrupted global fuel markets.
Bangladesh has also faced long queues for fuel in recent days, while reports of illegal stockpiling have prompted enforcement drives by the government.
Authorities are attempting to secure fuel from alternative sources beyond the Middle East, alongside efforts to reduce consumption and cut public expenditure.
At a cabinet meeting on Thursday, the government decided to revise office hours to 9am–4pm, shorten banking hours and require shops, shopping centres and businesses to close by 6pm.
Following that decision, Bangladesh Bank issued a circular reducing banking transaction hours by one hour, setting them from 10am to 3pm.
In line with these measures, stock market trading hours have now also been curtailed.