Shops, malls nationwide to shut for 2 days ahead of polls

Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections, all shops, commercial outlets, and shopping malls across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday (February 11–12), the country’s shop owners’ associations announced.

The decision was taken jointly by the Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association and the Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners’ Association during a standing committee meeting.

A statement signed by the associations’ president, Md. Nazmul Hasan Mahmud, was issued on February 5 and made public on Saturday (February 7).

The statement noted that the closures aim to ensure citizens have maximum opportunity to exercise their voting rights on February 12. The decision aligns with the government’s announcement of a public holiday on February 11 and the regular holiday on election day, February 12. Factory workers will also observe a holiday on February 10, adding to a consecutive period of closures.

The associations emphasised their support for government measures to ensure a smooth and peaceful voting process, despite the temporary impact on retail and commercial activity.