SUKANTA HALDER

Retailers in Bangladesh have urged the government to allow shops and malls to stay open from 1pm to 10pm, saying the current 7pm closure order is hurting business ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

In early April, the government directed all shops and shopping malls across the country to shut by 7pm due to an energy crisis caused by the war in the Middle East.

Businesspeople argue that shifting hours rather than reducing them would preserve a full workday, cut energy use during cooler hours, and match peak shopping times.

The Fashion Entrepreneurs Association of Bangladesh (FEAB), in a press release, said the adjustment is vital to capture critical Eid sales.

Business owners say the 7pm closure of shopping malls is cutting potential sales by 30-60 percent.

Azharul Hoque Azad, president of FEAB, noted that commercial activity naturally rises ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, one of the year’s most important sales seasons for the domestic fashion and lifestyle sector.

Around 60 percent of total sales in shopping malls take place in the evening, while only about 40 percent occur during the day.

Due to intense heat and busy daytime schedules, customer turnout is relatively low during the day, and the main shopping activity happens during the evening hours, said Azad, who is also the managing director of Sadakalo Limited, a local fashion brand.

If the proposed revised schedule is implemented, it would partially maintain energy savings while also ensuring the normal flow of business during the Eid season, he added.

Naimul Khan, vice chairman of Lubnan Trade Consortium Limited, which owns Lubnan, Richman and Infinity brands, said sales have dropped by around 40 percent as restrictions have reduced evening foot traffic.

He said the decline in sales has disrupted the entire supply chain, with no new orders being placed and small factories and suppliers -- especially those linked through accessories and other backward linkages -- facing severe difficulties.

Despite reduced operations, factories must remain open, and wages must be paid, as businesses expect the situation to be temporary, he said.

Faria Yasmin, managing director of Bata Shoe Company Bangladesh Limited, said the government’s decision to close shops by 7pm conflicts with established consumer behaviour, as most customers prefer to shop in the evening, and these habits cannot change quickly.

She said that although stores open in the morning, foot traffic remains low, while a significant share of sales -- around 30 to 40 percent -- previously occurred after 6pm, making the early closure particularly damaging.

She explained that stores are now forced to operate during low-demand daytime hours, running air conditioning and lighting during peak daytime heat, which increases energy costs while reducing revenue.

At the same time, overall sales have declined by 30 percent across the country, but fixed costs such as salaries, electricity bills, and rents remain unchanged, creating financial strain for businesses.

Kamruzzaman Kamal, marketing director at PRAN-RFL Group, one of the largest local conglomerates, said the company has seen an overall sales decline of about 20 percent, combining both food and non-food products.

He added that the impact is relatively lower for food items due to exemptions, but non-food products are more affected.

He further stated that daytime sales remain very low until a certain point, making evening hours essential for business activity.