Shop owners call for revision of business hours
The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association has urged the government to reconsider recently imposed business hours for shops, markets, and shopping malls, citing operational difficulties under the current schedule.
The appeal came following an emergency virtual meeting of the association’s standing committee on Friday.
The organisation proposed allowing shops to open at 11:00 am instead of 9:00 am and remain open until 8:00 pm, instead of the current 6:00 pm closing time.
Association leaders said the existing schedule is creating practical challenges for businesses across the country.
They added that the proposed revision would better support both business owners and employees.
The association also decided to formally request the intervention of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, emphasising the interests of around 7 million shop owners and around 25 million employees nationwide.
President Nazmul Hasan Mahmud and General Secretary Arifur Rahman Tipu said the current business hours are not aligned with practical market conditions and require urgent reconsideration.
The government introduced the shortened business hours as part of energy-saving measures in response to a global fuel crisis caused by ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Under the directive, all shops, markets, and shopping malls must close by 6:00 pm.
Earlier, the association had announced a voluntary decision to close businesses by 8:00 pm to support the government’s energy conservation efforts.
The new policy also includes changes to office and banking hours. Offices now operate from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, while bank transactions run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, with banks closing by 4:00 pm.
The revised schedule came into effect on Friday as authorities aim to reduce energy consumption and ease pressure on national resources amid ongoing global supply challenges.
MAS/MHK
