Bangladesh government has directed shops, markets and shopping malls to shut shop by 8 pm amid ongoing power crisis in country.
Bangladesh is facing one of its worst power crisis in years as a severe shortage of natural gas has hit electricity generation in the country, prompting the government to direct closure of shops, markets and shopping malls as early as 8pm.
Bangladesh has now turned to India for help.
New govt order forces commercial establishments to shut shop early
Under a government directive that took effect on Thursday, shops, markets and shopping malls have been directed to shut shop by 8pm, according to a Reuters report. Commercial establishments are now permitted to operate only between 11am and 8pm while hospitals, pharmacies and food-related businesses have been exempted.
B’desh turns to India for help
The worsening crisis has also prompted Bangladesh to seek additional diesel supplies from India to help manage the shortages of power and gas.
Indian high commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh’s Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood to discuss cooperation in the power and energy sectors, three days ago.
“High Commissioner Trivedi paid a courtesy call on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood,” the Indian High Commission said in a post on X.
High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi paid a courtesy call on Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Tarique Rahman on 10 August 2026.
High Commissioner conveyed greetings from Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and the intent to work together with the Government and the people of… pic.twitter.com/hkTmUYb1Bs
— India in Bangladesh (@ihcdhaka) August 10, 2026
They “exchanged views on further strengthening India–Bangladesh cooperation in the power and energy sectors,” it said.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mahmood said the diesel shortage had directly affected gas-fired power generation, triggering widespread load-shedding.
“We have a pipeline with India through which diesel is supplied. We have asked them to provide more,” he told reporters, according to PTI.