Dhaka, April 5 -- The government is set to decide by this week whether to reintroduce online classes alongside in-person lessons at schools and colleges in metropolitan areas to save fuel, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon says.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday, the minister said the move follows a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to formulate a "systematic distribution" of academic activities using online and offline options.

"We have yet to sit with the stakeholders. We plan to meet with them over the next two days to reach a decision, which will then be presented to the Cabinet," Milon said.

The proposal comes as the government explores austerity measures to mitigate the impact of the global en...