The government has decided to allow shops, markets, and shopping malls to remain open until 7pm, extending closing hours by one hour in response to requests from business owners.
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit announced the decision on Sunday during a briefing with journalists at his office in the Secretariat.
He confirmed that the government supported shop owners’ demands to adjust business hours, citing energy-saving considerations.
Earlier, on 2 April, the cabinet had ordered all shopping malls and markets to close by 6pm in response to the ongoing energy crisis caused by the Middle East conflict.
However, the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association had requested a revision, asking for permission to operate until 8pm and proposing a later opening time of 11am instead of 9am to accommodate extended evening hours.
The state minister also addressed fuel supply issues, stating that demand is expected to remain high until 15 April. Farmers facing diesel shortages are advised to report to relevant authorities.
He added that Bangladesh is prepared to meet April’s fuel demand and has sufficient stocks of petrol and octane for the next three months.
While the government has not yet received confirmation for fuel imports from Russia, he expects no obstacles.
In addition to extending business hours, the government issued directives for other sectors to manage energy consumption.
All government and private offices will operate from 9am to 4pm, while banks will conduct public transactions from 9am to 3pm and close at 4pm.
Essential services, including kitchen markets, food outlets, and pharmacies, are exempt from the restrictions.
The measures were finalised at a cabinet meeting held at the Parliament Secretariat, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Following the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani briefed journalists at the media centre of the National Parliament building, emphasising that the steps were taken to mitigate potential fuel supply disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
