The government has fixed office timings for the upcoming month of Ramadan from 9:00am to 3:30pm on working days.

Cabinet yesterday approved the new time schedule, placed by the public administration ministry. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam briefed reporters about the outcome of the meeting at the secretariat.

According to the new time schedule, there would be a 15-minute prayer break from 1:15pm. The new timing would be effective for all the government, semi-government, autonomous and semi-autonomous institutions, he said.

The secretary said the Supreme Court, hospitals, banks, insurance agencies and emergency service providing organisations would set their own office timings.

The Ramadan is likely to begin in the middle of this month depending on the sighting of the moon.