In a major effort to conserve electricity and fuel across the country, the leading trade body of business owners has decided to shut down all shops and shopping malls by 8:00 PM. This move is being viewed as a voluntary initiative aligned with the government’s efforts to address the ongoing global energy crisis.
According to a press release issued on Thursday, the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association (Bangladesh Dokan Malik Samity) announced that all commercial establishments, including those in the capital, will wrap up their operations within the stipulated time. Md. Arifur Rahman Tipu, the General Secretary of the association, clarified that this is an independent decision by the business community rather than a mandatory government directive.
The association emphasized that reducing electricity consumption is vital due to the current volatility in the international energy market. Consequently, traders across the country, including the Dhaka metropolitan area, reached a consensus to limit operating hours for shops and retail centers.
However, emergency services are exempt from this new schedule. Establishments providing essential goods and services-such as hotels, pharmacies, and kitchen markets-will continue to operate under their regular hours.
Policy analysts suggest that such proactive measures from the private sector to promote energy discipline could have a significant positive impact on the nation’s overall energy management.