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Shopping malls to remain open till 8 PM
By UNB, Dhaka
Sat, 7 Jul 2007, 22:44:00

Shops, shopping malls, markets and business establishments across the country will now remain open till 8pm, the caretaker government decided Saturday, relaxing the power-saving austerity measure.

“The decision is aimed at accelerating economic activities,” says an official declaration on the decision taken by the Council of Advisers to extend the timeline by an hour to 8pm from 7pm, the time limit earlier enforced in the wake of a severe power crisis in the country. A regular weekly meeting of the council of advisers with Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair, after discussing pros and cons of the matter, approved a proposal to the effect of extending the business hours in the evening.

The Power Division placed the proposal before the council for considering the sopping-time extension in view of the latest situation. The power authorities listed the factors like increase in the duration of daytime, end of irrigation season and slight improvements in power generation, from 3,400 megawatts to 3,500MW. According to the CA’s Press Secretary, Syed Fahim Munaim, who was present at the meeting, the power division also mentioned the appeal of leaders of Dhaka City Shop Owners Association for extending the business timing for shops, markets and shopping malls. The plea was made during their recent meeting with the Power Adviser.

On February 25, the caretaker government, following discussion with representatives of the shop owners’ associations, cut short the business hours to 7 in the evening to save electricity.

Members of the council of advisers attended the meeting at the CA’s Office.


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