Shops, malls to stay open till 10pm every night ahead of Eid-ul-Azha

Shops and shopping complexes will stay open till 10pm every day ahead of the Eid day, announced the Shop Owners’ Association on Thursday.

Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmud confirmed the government’s consent to the extension in a phone call with Md Helal Uddin, president of the association, earlier in the day, the business leader told reporters.

The government has also instructed traders to avoid special lighting works and additional power use, said a press release issued by the Shop Owners’ Association.

According to the press release, on 4 May, the trade body sent an application to the power minister seeking approval to extend the closing hours from 7pm to 11pm owing to the Eid shopping season.

The government has agreed to extend the closing hour to 11pm.

The government previously restricted the business hour for shops and malls to 7pm to conserve power and energy in the wake of the US-Israeli war with Iran, and the consequent global fuel crisis.