, April 3 -- The government has decided to revise office hours in view of the global energy crisis.

Under the new schedule, offices will run from 9:00am to 4:00pm, instead of the existing 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Besides, all shops, markets and shopping malls will have to close by 6:00pm.

However, hotels, pharmacies, essential service outlets and kitchen markets will remain outside the purview of this restriction.

The decisions were taken at a Cabinet meeting held on Thursday night. Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed reporters on the decisions after the meeting.

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The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, began at around 8:45pm at the...