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The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association has urged the government to allow markets, shopping malls and shops across the country, including Dhaka, to remain open until 10pm instead of the current 8pm closing time.
In a press release issued on Monday (November 2), the association requested the Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources to take necessary steps and issue a government directive to this effect.
The statement, signed by association President Md Nazmul Hasan Mahmud and General Secretary Md Arifur Rahman Tipu, said markets and shopping centres in Dhaka and other parts of the country were experiencing a shortage of customers and a decline in sales.
It said the mandatory closure of shops by 8pm had significantly reduced business turnover, pushing small and medium-sized traders into financial difficulties. Some businesses were also at risk of shutting down.
The association said the situation was affecting not only business owners but also the livelihoods of millions of employees working in the sector. According to the organisation, around seven million shop owners and 25 million employees depend on the retail trade for their livelihoods.
At an emergency virtual meeting of its standing committee on November 1, 2026, the association decided to appeal to the government to extend business hours until 10pm, citing the economic interests of traders and employees.
The association’s leaders said allowing shops to remain open until 10pm would help restore normal business activities, reduce financial losses for small and medium-sized traders and protect employment.
It called for the minister’s intervention and the prompt issuance of necessary government instructions to maintain a normal business environment and safeguard the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on the sector.
