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Businesses seek extended shop hrs for Durga Puja
Published : Monday, 5 October, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association has urged the government to allow shops and shopping malls to remain open until 10:00PM during Durga Puja to boost sales.
The association recently sent a letter to Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku seeking an extension of the current closing time.
Association President Md Helal Uddin confirmed the matter on Monday (October 5).
In the letter, business leaders said all shops and shopping malls are currently required to close by 8:00PM under directives from the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
They said businesses have been cooperating with the government to save energy during the crisis, following the Prime Minister's directives. However, sales at shops have declined for a long time due to the global economic situation and the energy crisis. As a result, many businesses are facing financial difficulties.
Business leaders said sales usually increase during Eid and Durga Puja. Extending business hours during the festive period would help small and medium-sized businesses recover some of their losses, they said.
They also said the load-shedding situation has improved. Considering the current situation of small and medium-sized businesses, they requested permission to keep shops and shopping malls open until 10:00PM from October 5 to October 20 instead of closing at 8:00PM.
Earlier, the government ordered shops and shopping malls to close by 6:00PM in April after the energy crisis intensified following tensions in the Middle East. At the time, business owners sought permission to operate until 8:00PM. The government later extended the closing time by one hour to 7:00PM.
The restriction was relaxed further ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Most recently, on August 12, the government allowed shops and shopping malls to remain open until 8:00PM. Under the directive, the establishments can operate from 11:00AM to 8:00PM.
The government also ordered all illuminated billboards to be switched off by 7:00PM and banned all forms of decorative lighting.
Against this backdrop, the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association has again sought permission to keep shops and shopping malls open until 10:00PM during the upcoming Durga Puja to give businesses more opportunity to increase sales.
-EM/SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
