The government has allowed shops and shopping centres to remain open from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm.
The development came following requests from business owners, says the Bangladesh Shop Owners Association.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the association said that Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud spoke over the phone with the association's President Md Helal Uddin.
During the conversation, the minister informed him that shops and shopping malls may operate from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm that will take effect immediately.
In response to the global energy crisis resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on April 2 decided to reduce the operating hours of government and private offices by one hour.
However, the authorities later extended the closing time by one hour following a request from traders' associations.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com