Shops and Malls to Stay Open Until 10 PM for Eid-ul-Azha

In a move to facilitate Eid shopping while balancing the national energy crisis, the government has extended the operating hours for shops and shopping malls across Bangladesh. Starting May 12, businesses will be permitted to remain open until 10:00 PM daily leading up to Eid-ul-Azha.

Helal Uddin, President of the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association, confirmed the decision in a video statement on Thursday. He noted that while the association had initially requested an 11:00 PM closing time to accommodate the holiday rush, the government settled on 10:00 PM as a middle ground.

"We requested the extension to better serve customers during the Eid season," Helal Uddin stated. "However, the government has provided strict instructions to avoid any additional lighting or excessive electricity consumption during these extended hours."

The decision marks a temporary shift from the 7:00 PM curfew imposed on April 5, which was part of a broader strategy to manage the country's ongoing energy shortage. Prior to that, shops were briefly required to close as early as 6:00 PM.