TBM Report
The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has officially directed all public and private universities to suspend their operations starting Monday, March 9, 2026. This decisive administrative move aims to conserve national energy resources and electricity amid a persistent global crisis. In a formal letter issued late Sunday night, UGC Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam urged Vice-Chancellors across the nation to implement necessary measures immediately to align with the government’s energy-saving policies.
The directive follows a specific request from the Ministry of Education’s Secondary and Higher Education Division, which emphasized the urgent need for responsible energy consumption at the national level. The Ministry highlighted that the vast network of higher education institutions consumes a significant portion of the national grid. By temporarily closing these campuses, the government expects to alleviate the pressure on electricity and fuel supplies, ensuring stability during these economically challenging times.
In addition to energy concerns, the timing of the closure aligns with the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and the subsequent Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations. The UGC’s instruction mandates that all academic activities remain suspended from March 9 until the dates specified in the respective universities’ academic calendars for the Eid holidays. Officials and staff members within these institutions are also urged to adopt highly responsible behaviors regarding electricity use during this interim period.
Sources within the UGC indicated that while the closure is mandatory for academic sessions, individual university administrations have been given some discretion to manage essential administrative tasks based on their specific needs. The overarching goal remains a drastic reduction in on-campus presence to minimize the energy load. This strategic hiatus is viewed as a proactive step by the government to prioritize national welfare over routine academic schedules in the face of a mounting global energy emergency.
 of Bangladesh has officially directed all public and private universities to suspend their operations starting Monday, March 9, 2026. This decisive administrative move aims to conserve national energy resources and electricity amid a persistent global crisis. In a formal letter issued late Sunday night, UGC Secretary Dr. Md. Fakhrul Islam urged Vice-Chancellors across the nation to implement necessary measures immediately to align with the government's energy-saving policies.){kind=link}