The government of Bangladesh has decided to switch off exterior lighting at shopping malls and retail establishments as part of intensified energy-saving measures amid rising global fuel prices and supply uncertainties linked to the Middle East conflict.
The decision was taken during a meeting held Sunday by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources with business leaders, according to an official statement.
The meeting, chaired by State Minister for Power and Energy Anindya Islam Amit, focused on strategies to reduce electricity and fuel consumption.
Under the new directives, all shopping malls and business establishments across the country must keep their exterior decorative lighting switched off. In addition, the temperature of air-conditioning systems in these facilities cannot be set below 25 degrees Celsius.
Authorities also instructed that signboard lights must be turned off immediately when a shop or business closes.
Business leaders attending the meeting said they would cooperate with the government in implementing the measures to help conserve electricity and fuel.
Representatives from several major business bodies joined the discussion, including the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with leaders of various shop owners’ associations.
The government has recently been emphasizing reduced energy consumption across different sectors as part of broader efforts to manage the country’s power and fuel supply. Earlier, the Energy Division also announced the withdrawal of a fuel rationing system introduced during previous supply pressures.
