Dhaka, April 2 -- A section of shop owners have announced that all shops, retail outlets and shopping malls across the country will close by 8pm daily to help ease pressure from the ongoing global energy crisis, while another major organisation says no such decision has been taken.

The shop closure decision was disclosed in a statement on Thursday following a joint meeting of the standing committees of the Bangladesh Shop Business Owner's Association and the Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Business Owner's Association.

The move is aimed at conserving electricity and fuel amid instability in international energy markets triggered by the Middle East situation.

According to the decision, all shops and malls will shut by 8pm, while essential servi...