DHAKA: Businessmen and power authorities Sunday decided that shops would remain open as long as there are shoppers after the 15th of Ramadan, as a shopping binge is getting on steam ahead of eid festival.

Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) Ltd and Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association announced the decision at a joint press conference at the Power Office here Sunday, relaxing the ceiling on shopping hours for electricity crisis across the country.   

The press conference was informed that shops could be kept open “as long as there are shoppers after the 15th of Ramadan”.

But, shop owners would have to switch off half of the lights, mercury lights and air conditioners during the after-hours shopping period for saving power, said DPDC Managing Director AK Faridul Haque and Association president Amir Hossain Khan.

Faridul Haque said the association leaders at the negotiations with the government’s power authorities have agreed on saving power and pledged not to turn on ACs during the peak hours.

Joint monitoring teams of DPDC and the business association would monitor the overall activities, he added.

Amir Hossain said, “We’re pledge-bound to the government for saving power.”

BDST : 1546 HRS, AUG 22, 2010