SRINAGAR: Bangladesh has ordered the early closure of all universities across the country as part of emergency measures to conserve electricity and fuel amid a deepening energy crisis linked to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Officials said the directive, issued by the Government of Bangladesh, will bring forward the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holidays and applies to both public and private universities nationwide. Authorities said the move is intended to reduce electricity consumption and ease pressure on the country’s overstretched power system.
University campuses are among the largest consumers of electricity due to the energy demands of residential halls, classrooms, laboratories and cooling systems. By temporarily shutting down campuses, the government expects to significantly cut power use while also reducing traffic congestion in major cities such as Dhaka, which contributes to higher fuel consumption.
The decision comes as Bangladesh grapples with growing uncertainty over fuel and gas supplies following disruptions in global energy markets caused by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Bangladesh relies heavily on imported energy, with nearly 95 per cent of its fuel requirements sourced from abroad, making it particularly vulnerable to fluctuations in global supply and prices.
Authorities have already imposed daily limits on fuel sales after panic buying and stockpiling were reported in several parts of the country. As part of broader austerity measures aimed at conserving electricity, the government has also instructed foreign-curriculum schools and private coaching centres to temporarily suspend operations.
Earlier, government and private schools had already been closed for the holy month of Ramadan. With universities now included, most educational institutions across the country will remain shut during this period.
The energy shortage has also forced authorities to halt operations at four of the country’s five state-run fertiliser plants due to severe natural gas shortages. Available gas supplies are being redirected toward electricity generation in an effort to prevent widespread power outages.
Energy shortages are increasingly affecting Bangladesh’s key export industries, particularly the garment sector. Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest clothing exporter after China, and many factories rely on diesel-powered generators during electricity outages.
Industry leaders say power cuts have doubled in recent weeks, reaching up to five hours per day in some areas. As a result, garment factories are being forced to rely more heavily on backup generators, increasing demand for diesel at a time when fuel supplies are tightening.
Mahmud Hasan Khan, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said many factories are struggling to obtain enough diesel to maintain operations during outages.
To stabilise supplies, the state-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation has arranged emergency diesel shipments from international traders.
Energy officials said around 60,000 metric tons of diesel are currently being delivered by trading companies, while another 90,000 metric tons is expected later this month.
A shipment of about 27,000 metric tons from PetroChina has already arrived at Chittagong Port, while another 28,000 metric tons cargo from Vitol is waiting at the port’s outer anchorage.
Additional fuel is also arriving through a cross-border pipeline from Numaligarh Refinery in India, which is currently supplying about 5,000 metric tons of diesel, with negotiations underway to secure an additional 30,000 metric tons from Indian Oil Corporation.
Bangladesh normally consumes around 380,000 metric tons of diesel each month, but rationing measures have reduced demand to roughly 270,000 metric tons per month, according to officials.
Despite the arrival of refined diesel cargoes, Bangladesh faces greater uncertainty over crude oil supplies for its domestic refineries.
The country imports around 1.4 million metric tons of crude oil annually under long-term agreements with Saudi Aramco and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
However, shipments from these suppliers must pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy transit route that has been heavily disrupted by the conflict.
Officials said at least one cargo of approximately 100,000 tons from Saudi Aramco has already been delayed in the Gulf due to the ongoing crisis.
The combination of diesel shortages, delayed crude shipments and reduced natural gas supplies is placing mounting pressure on Bangladesh’s energy system.
Officials say emergency measures such as university closures, fuel rationing and additional imports are aimed at stabilising supplies while global markets remain volatile.
The situation highlights how the conflict in the Middle East is beginning to affect energy-importing economies far beyond the immediate war zone, exposing the vulnerability of countries heavily dependent on imported fuel.
