Me4All.com

Schools and businesses have been asked to follow new work hours in a latest government move to control chaos on the streets of the capital. The government offices will however continue with their current 9am-5pm schedule.

The changes in the timetable to ease stress on the road networks were approved at a Cabinet meeting, chaired by prime minister Sheikh Hasina, on Monday, press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters.

Banks, insurance companies, other financial institutions and all private companies will work from 10am to 6pm, while primary and kindergarten schools will have to finish business between 9:30am and 4:15pm.

Secondary, higher secondary and English medium schools will start between 7am and 8:30am and end between 1pm and 2:30pm.

Government, semi-government and autonomous corporations or institutions will follow the old 9am-5pm.

A circular will be issued soon from the establishment ministry, Azad said.

The prime minister asked authorities to appoint additional traffic police to ease traffic gridlock in Dhaka city, he said.

She urged all to obey traffic rules.

The prime minister also asked relevant authorities to consider relocation of main offices of the Secretariat to Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

The cabinet at the meeting gave the approval to Gas Law-2009, Azad added.

All current gas related functions are being operated with the help of Power Act of 1910. Steps were taken to form new law in 2004 and an ordinance was issued in 2007.

The meeting approved a proposal on signing an agreement on development of capital investment and preservation between Bangladesh and Denmark, Azad said.

The Bangladesh delegation that went to the 53rd general assembly of International Atomic Energy Agency held on Sept 14-18 in Vienna submitted its report and recommendations to the cabinet meeting, he said.

Azad said of the total 204 decisions taken by the cabinet 104 were implemented and 76 are in the process of implementation since the government took office in January.