DST in our context
Thanks for the article by Kazi Mahbub Hasan on the above subject published on 17.10.2009 in The Daily Star. I would like to add some more points:
1. Two of the greatest populous countries in the world that are environmentally similar to us have used and later on abandoned the DST. They are also in electricity crisis. I don't know whether we have asked them about the advantage and disadvantages of DST.
2. Even the United States of America is not using in the DST in those parts of its country where the weather is similar to us i.e. parts of the US which are near the tropic:-
3. Example is the part of Arizona, Hawaii, Territories of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa. They stay on the Standard Time. Some one remarked that “If you have spent any time in the sweltering summer sun in those regions you can understand why residents don't need another hour of sunlight!” Is there any different weather in Bangladesh?
4. Most countries near the equator don't deviate from the Standard Time.
5. A study done by the National Research Council Canada in 2008 on “Effect of daylight saving time on lighting energy use: a literature review” has come to, among others, the following conclusion:
· The existing knowledge about how Daylight Saving Time affects energy use is limited, incomplete, or contradictory. Many conclusions are the result of expectations alone, are based on constrained assumptions, or are older than 25 years.
· Economic, geographical, and climatological factors have major effects on electricity end use. Studies should always correct such factors.
· Effects of DST on lighting energy use are mainly noticeable in residential buildings.
Indeed some say that in colder countries nearer the polar regions, primary reason that DST is part of many societies is simply because people like to enjoy long summer evenings.
Everybody should have noticed the effect of climate if they have visited the Hill Stations of Darjeeling or Shillong, which are not more than 150 kilometers from Bangladesh border. Even in summer the people don't like to stay outdoors after sunset because of cold weather. Normally in Bangladesh people remain inside house in shade and use fan or AC until sunset. Only after sunset when the sun nears the western horizon that they come out of house to stroll or to go to markets etc.
To conserve electricity the markets are closed at 8:00pm (= 7:00pm Standard Time). In summer this is the time of sunset. People miss the markets and shops to purchase, or stroll and gossip with friends. So, they are forced to stay home with continuing use of electricity.
We are very much fixed with the statistics of foreign exchange earning by garments and human resource export. We never think of or calculate the small businessmen's, shopkeepers', ferrywallas', rickshwpullers', tempo-drivers', bus drivers', boatmen's contribution to the economy.
I would suggest that we be frank that we are eating (!) up electricity, more than we are producing. All types of incentives may be given to people who will install solar light. This will save the foreign purchase of costly oils and will be environment-friendly.
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