Dhaka: The government has announced a new closing time for shops and shopping malls across the country, allowing them to operate until 7 pm instead of the previous 6 pm. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit shared this update with reporters at the Secretariat.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Cabinet had initially decided on April 2 to close all retail establishments by 6 pm due to the ongoing fuel crisis resulting from the conflict in the Middle East. However, the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association appealed to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, urging a reconsideration of the closing time to 8 pm, alongside a proposal to begin operations at 11 am instead of 9 am.
During the announcement, State Minister Anindya Islam Amit explained that the Prime Minister approved the request to extend the closing time to 7 pm after reviewing the association’s plea. It was clarified that emergency service providers would not be affected by this new schedule. The minister also encouraged the public to conserve electricity both at home and at work, noting that energy-saving measures are crucial for overcoming future challenges.