Bangladesh Restores 7 PM Commercial Closing to Conserve Power

The Government of Bangladesh has officially reinstated a directive requiring all shopping malls, markets, and retail shops across the country to close by 7:00 PM. This measure has been reintroduced as part of an ongoing national initiative to conserve electricity and manage power consumption more effectively.

On Monday, the Power Division issued an official notification detailing the policy. This directive has been formally dispatched to the mayors and administrators of all city corporations, divisional commissioners, and district administrators nationwide to ensure swift and comprehensive enforcement at the local level.

Context and Adjustments to Operating Hours

Prior to this announcement, a policy mandated by the Prime Minister was in place, which restricted the operation of shopping complexes, markets, and retail outlets to 7:00 PM to curb electricity usage. However, in consideration of the major religious festival Eid-ul-Adha, the government temporarily relaxed these restrictions. Beginning on 10 May, the closing time was extended to 10:00 PM to facilitate public shopping and support commercial trade during the festive period.

According to the latest notification from the Power Division, the period allocated for this special Eid concession has now concluded. Consequently, the original austerity measures have been reinstated with effect from 1 June. All retail shops, shopping malls, and commercial markets must conclude their daily operations and close their doors by 7:00 PM, reversing the temporary 10:00 PM extension.

Additional Power-Saving Directives

To achieve maximum efficiency in electricity consumption, the government has expanded the scope of the restriction beyond retail establishments. The new directive explicitly outlines additional regulations that must be observed nationwide:

• Illuminated Billboards: All digital and conventional advertising billboards across cities and highways must turn off their lights by 7:00 PM daily.

• Fairs and Cultural Events: The 7:00 PM curfew is also fully applicable to all public exhibitions, trade fairs, and cultural programmes organized in various parts of the country.

• General Illumination: Local authorities are expected to discourage unnecessary decorative lighting at social venues and commercial properties to prevent energy waste.

Summary of Restored Energy Restrictions

The operational changes and specific restrictions mandated by the Power Division are outlined in the table below:

Local administrations and law enforcement agencies have been instructed to monitor compliance closely and take necessary administrative actions against any establishments violating the revised schedule. The government has urged business owners and the general public to cooperate with these measures to help stabilize the national power supply and minimise the necessity for load shedding.