Bangladesh announced on Thursday that some classes in its schools would now be held online to further reduce its energy consumption due to rising prices due to the war in the Middle East. The country of 170 million inhabitants imports 95% of its oil and gas needs, a good part of which comes from Gulf countries.
Its supplies were disrupted from the start of the conflict, which forced the authorities to ration the distribution of fuel and increase their prices, just like those of gas, or even reduce the opening hours of offices and businesses. Despite the fragile ceasefire observed since Wednesday between Iran and the United States, the government has decided to resort to distance learning starting next week to reduce its energy bill.
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Virtual classes every other day
“The plan provides that classes will be given physically on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays, and virtually on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays”Minister of Education ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon told the press. “Only establishments which have the capacity to organize virtual courses (…) and whose students come to class by car, will be affected by these measures”however, specified the minister.
The war in the Middle East risks lastingly affecting the already fragile economic health of Bangladesh, the World Bank worried this week, which cited inflation and a deterioration of public finances among the main risks.
