Now shops, malls to stay open till 7pm

The government has announced new opening hours for all shops and shopping malls across the country. 

Shops and shopping centres will now remain open from 11 am to 7 pm. Previously, the decision was to keep them open from 9 am to 6 pm.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit made the announcement while speaking to reporters at his office in the Secretariat on Sunday. 

He said the decision to extend opening hours until 7 pm was taken after considering the demands of shop owners.

Last Thursday, the Cabinet Division had decided to close all shops and shopping malls at 6 pm due to the energy crisis linked to the war in the Middle East. 

However, leaders of the Bangladesh Shopkeepers' Association requested Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to review the decision and allow businesses to operate until 8 pm.

The shopkeepers proposed opening at 11 am instead of 9 am if necessary, but they requested to remain shops open until 8 pm rather than 6 pm.

At the briefing, the State Minister for Power said: "The Shopkeepers' Association requested us to allow them to keep their shops open at least until 7 pm. Although the cabinet meeting had decided on 6 pm, the Prime Minister later reviewed the application and request of the Shopkeepers' Association and decided to extend the opening hours until 7 pm. Of course, emergency services will remain outside the scope of this decision."

He added: "At the same time, I want to tell everyone that we must practise energy efficiency both at home and in our workplaces. If we save energy, then, Insha Allah, it will be easier for us to face this challenge in the coming days."