Fake Facebook Circular Fuels ‘Work-from-Home’ Confusion Ahead of Policy Decision
A circular regarding two days of home office circulated on social media platform Facebook has gone viral. The viral circular is fake.
This is because a final decision on the matter is scheduled to be taken after discussion in the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, 2 April. However, a day earlier, on Wednesday, 1 April, discussions spread among netizens on Facebook regarding the issuance of a home office-related circular, creating confusion.
Later, on Thursday, 2 April, the Ministry of Public Administration confirmed that the circular was fake. In a statement signed by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer, it was said that a memorandum numbered 05.00.0000.110.22.045.26.120, dated 1 April 2026, regarding changes in government office schedules and the operation of offices three days a week to save electricity and energy, had been circulated on social media. The Ministry of Public Administration clarified that no such letter had been issued and urged everyone not to be misled.
Amid the ongoing war situation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, a global energy crisis has emerged. As a result, the Bangladesh government is considering measures such as extending weekly holidays, introducing ‘work from home’ opportunities for officials, and adjusting office schedules to conserve energy. However, no final decision has yet been made.
The previously circulated fake circular claimed that from 5 April until further notice, employees of government, semi-government, autonomous, and statutory organizations would work from home for two days a week, while offices would remain open for three days—Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. According to the false document, employees would work from home on Wednesday and Thursday, with weekly holidays on Friday and Saturday.
It further stated that on the three working days, office hours would be from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, while official duties on the remaining two days would be completed digitally from home.
The fake circular also mentioned that emergency service providers (hospitals, fire service, electricity, gas, and water supply, etc.) would remain outside the scope of this directive and would continue their operations as per their own regulations.
DBTech/SI/EK/OR
