Call for urgent circular allowing shops to stay open until 10pm before Eid

The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association (BSOA) on Thursday said that State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku informed them that malls and retail shops will be allowed to stay open until 10pm, instead of 7pm, from 12 May until Eid-ul-Azha.
BSOA President Helal Uddin confirmed the matter. The same information was also confirmed by another trade body, the Bangladesh Shop Business Owners Association (BSBOA). The associations have urged the government to issue an immediate official circular regarding the decision.
Helal Uddin said, “The minister informed us that shops will be allowed to remain open until 10pm. For the past two days, we have been saying that if shop owners are not informed in advance, they will not be able to prepare properly. They will neither purchase goods nor decorate their shops. If they think they must close by 6pm or 7pm, sales will suffer and the Eid market will not flourish properly.”
He further said, “The minister repeatedly told me that he would discuss the matter with the prime minister and inform us. Today, he called and confirmed that shops can remain open until 10pm. However, decorative lighting and excessive illumination will not be allowed. Later, I asked whether I could share this information citing him, and he gave his consent.”
Meanwhile, BSBOA President Md Nazmul Hasan Mahmud said they had recently submitted a letter to the Ministry of Commerce but were yet to receive any circular. He added that shop owners are facing difficulties due to confusion and interference from law enforcement agencies, stressing the need for an official government notification.