Govt extends opening hours of shops, shopping malls

The government has extended the operating hours for shops and shopping malls by one hour, allowing them to remain open until 7:00pm instead of the previous 6:00pm, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit announced on Sunday (April 5).

The decision, made ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and Pahela Baishakh, follows requests from business owners and comes under the directive of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The new schedule is effective immediately.

Earlier, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku had recommended keeping the previous closing time, but the matter was later reconsidered.

The state minister assured that the country has sufficient fuel reserves for April and adequate petrol and octane stocks to meet demand over the next three months. Import procedures from new sources are also near completion.

He added that the agriculture sector will receive priority in fuel supply, with district administrations instructed to ensure no disruption during the irrigation season.

Previously, to conserve energy, government and private offices had shortened working hours and shops were required to close by 6:00pm.

The extended hours have been welcomed by business owners, while office hours remain unchanged at 9:00am to 4:00pm.