Dhaka: The existing rule of shutting down shops after 8:00pm will be relaxed after 15 Ramadan, said State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu on Tuesday.

The decision came following the demand of the shop owners to relax the rule so that they could make up for the loss they faced during hartal and blockade programmes.

The owners made the demand in a meeting with Prime Minister’s power and energy adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu at the Bidyut Bhaban on Tuesday.

Nasrul Hamid Bipu urged the shop owners to use energy saving bulbs during the Iftar and Tarabi prayer time.