Prime Minister Urges National Energy Conservation

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called on citizens, government offices, and private institutions across Bangladesh to adopt more economical electricity consumption practices. Demonstrating the initiative personally, the Prime Minister reduced energy use in his own office at the national secretariat by switching off half of the lights and lowering the air-conditioning settings.

According to Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Ruman, the Prime Minister arrived at his secretariat office at approximately 9:10 a.m. on Thursday. Upon entering his chamber, he immediately switched off around 50 per cent of the lighting and adjusted the air-conditioning temperature to 25.1°C, a level considered optimal for lowering electricity consumption while maintaining comfort.

The Prime Minister also extended the measure to official meetings. As he entered the cabinet conference room for a scheduled cabinet session, he instructed officials to turn off half of the lights and reduce the cooling intensity of the air-conditioning system.

The secretariat’s Building No. 1 houses the Prime Minister’s Office alongside several departments operating under his authority, including the Cabinet Division. Following his example, all rooms within the Prime Minister’s Office promptly implemented similar electricity-saving measures by reducing lighting and adjusting cooling systems.

Beyond the government complex, the Prime Minister appealed to ministries, public offices, courts, private buildings, shopping centres, and commercial establishments nationwide to reduce unnecessary electricity usage. He also encouraged greater use of natural daylight by opening curtains and minimising artificial lighting during daytime hours.

Key Energy-Saving Measures Implemented

Language Training to Boost Overseas Employment

In a separate development, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman instructed relevant ministries to establish language training centres across the country in order to prepare skilled workers for employment abroad.

The directive was issued during a meeting of the government committee on overseas employment expansion and expatriate welfare held at the secretariat. The Prime Minister emphasised the need to quickly develop skilled human resources among unemployed youth to increase overseas job opportunities.

Officials stated that the proposed language centres would be staffed by both local and international instructors, allowing job seekers to learn languages required in major destination countries. The initiative aims to enhance employability and ensure that workers can adapt more easily to foreign workplaces.

The meeting was attended by Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury, State Minister Nurul Haque Nur, Prime Minister’s Adviser Mahdi Amin, Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar, and senior officials from relevant ministries.

Planned Labour Migration Support Measures

The Prime Minister also directed ministries to introduce low-interest bank loans and simplify the lending process so that workers seeking jobs abroad would not have to sell personal assets to finance their migration.

Free Wi-Fi at Three International Airports

The government has also decided to introduce free Wi-Fi services at the terminals of the country’s three international airports. These include Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Shah Amanat International Airport, and Osmani International Airport.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism to implement the service in line with facilities offered at major international airports worldwide.

Temple Renovation in Dhaka Constituency

In addition, the Prime Minister has begun implementing campaign commitments in his parliamentary constituency, Dhaka-17 Constituency. Renovation work for a Hindu temple located near the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital in Mohakhali is scheduled to begin on Saturday.

The project is expected to commence at 11:00 a.m., with Dhaka city administrators Abdus Salam and Shafiqul Islam Milton present alongside election coordinator Professor Farhad Halim Donar.

‘Family Card’ Programme Launch

Finally, the Prime Minister is set to inaugurate the government’s “Family Card” social support programme on 10 March at 10:00 a.m. The launch event will take place at the T&T ground near Korail settlement in the capital, with simultaneous inaugurations planned at 14 additional locations across the country. Officials say the programme is designed to extend targeted assistance to low-income households.