Samakal Correspondent

The government has ordered all shopping malls, markets and shops across Bangladesh to close by 8pm as part of efforts to conserve electricity. Illuminated billboards must also be switched off by 7pm, while decorative lighting has been ordered to remain completely shut.

The Power Division's Coordination-2 branch issued the directive on Wednesday. Under the new instruction, shopping malls, markets and shops across the country may remain open from 11am to 8pm starting August 12. Previously, they were allowed to remain open until 9pm.

The directive also requires ongoing and upcoming fairs, trade fairs and cultural programmes in different parts of the country to conclude by 8pm.

Restaurants, hospitals and pharmacies, however, have been exempted from the directive.

The instruction, signed by Deputy Secretary of the Power Division Md Mamun Bhuiyan, asked the mayors or administrators of all city corporations, divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners to take necessary measures to enforce the decision.

The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), Dhaka Electric Supply Company (DESCO), West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDCL) and Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO), among other power agencies, have also been informed of the directive.

The new decision reduces the permitted operating hours of shopping malls, markets and shops by one hour. The government has also specified the shutdown time for illuminated billboards and decorative lighting as part of its electricity-saving measures.