The government is likely to augment time by an hour either from June 16 or April 1 next year as a part of electricity saving measure.

An inter-ministerial meeting decided yesterday at the Secretariat to introduce the daylight saving system. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Shamsul Hoq Tuku presided over the meeting while Secretary of Power Division Nasiruddin Ahmed and senior officials of different ministries were present in the meeting.

"We have planned to advance day time by an hour from June 16 to September 30 initially. If it fails then we will move to activate our decision on April 1 next year," Shamsul Hoq told the reporters after the meeting.

He said that the power division would place its proposal to the cabinet for approval immediately.

The ministry would discuss the issue with experts before a final decision is made, he added.

Power Division sought opinions from 26 ministries and divisions on April 7 in this regard.

Labour and employment, planning, industries, foreign affairs, telecommunications, information, shipping, law, civil aviation and tourism and education responded positively about the power division's plan.

Representatives of establishment, religious affairs, health, local government, primary and mass education ministries approved of the decision at the meeting, meeting sources said.

He added, those ministries who have not responed yet, been asked to give their opinion in writing by Thursday.

In the wake of severe electricity crisis in the country, the Power Division has recently moved the proposal to cut down electricity consumption, under which the clock will be moved forward by an hour across the country. It means, offices and businesses will open an hour earlier and then also close in advance by an hour, resulting in a change of habit for people to rise early and go to bed early.

According to the power division sources the government would be saving 250MW of electricity in this process.

Besides, 8mmcfd of gas, 5 per cent fuel and 2.35 per cent peak hour generation of electricity would also be saved after implementing the day-light saving proposal, a power division official said.