The government has directed that all shopping malls, markets, and shops across Bangladesh may remain open from 11am to 10pm until 22 October on the occasion of the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja 2026.
According to an official directive issued on Monday by the Coordination-2 Branch of the Power Division under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, the extended operating hours have been granted for the festival period.
The notification states that starting from 23 October 2026, market operating hours will revert to the previous schedule of 11am to 8pm.
This directive has been distributed for implementation to all city corporation mayors and administrators, divisional commissioners, and deputy commissioners.
Copies of the notice have also been forwarded for information and necessary action to top government officials and power sector leadership, including the cabinet secretary (Cabinet Division, Bangladesh Secretariat), the principal secretary to the prime minister (Prime Minister’s Office), and the chairmen of both the Bangladesh Power Development Board and the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board.
Additionally, copies were sent to the Managing Directors of power distribution entities — DPDC, DESCO, WZPDCL, and NESCO — as well as the Private Secretaries to the minister, state minister, and secretary of the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources, and the personal officer to the additional secretary (Coordination Wing).
Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity and the Dhaka Dokan Malik Samity have also been notified.
