Dhaka – A section of retail businesses have decided to shut their shops, commercial centers, and shopping malls at 8:00 pm every day to save electricity and energy, following disruptions in global energy supply caused by the war in the Middle East.
The Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association announced the decision in a press statement on Thursday, following a joint meeting with the Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners’ Association.
“In light of the international energy crisis, the decision has been taken to keep all shops, commercial centers, and shopping malls across the country, including those in Dhaka, closed by 8:00 pm,” the statement read.
The release added that the decision aims to assist the government in saving electricity and energy.
According to the statement, restaurants, hotels, pharmacies, essential service shops, and fresh vegetable markets have been kept outside the purview of this rule.
It is unclear how much energy could be saved each day by the early closure of shops. Typically, shops in Bangladesh operate between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm daily, with a one-day weekend.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020–2021, shop owners kept their businesses closed by 8:00 pm.
The main organization in this sector, the Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association, has not yet announced any decision on this matter.
The government has not yet issued any direction in this regard.
