Dhaka’s Malls Defy Government Energy Conservation Mandate

Despite a direct government directive aimed at mitigating a brewing energy crisis, major shopping complexes across Dhaka have largely ignored orders to cease ornamental lighting. The Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources issued the mandate on Sunday, 8 March, as part of a national strategy to conserve electricity amidst soaring global fuel prices triggered by escalating conflicts in the Middle East.

A Stark Disconnect in the Capital

An investigation conducted across the capital’s commercial hubs on Sunday and Monday nights revealed a defiant landscape of neon and LED displays. From the multi-storey facades of Mouchak to the sprawling markets of New Market, the skyline remains ablaze with decorative bulbs, contrasting sharply with the government’s call for austerity.

At the Fortune Shopping Complex in Mouchak, the entire structure was found draped in excessive lighting. When questioned, administrative staff claimed total ignorance of any official restriction. A similar scene unfolded at the neighbouring Centre Point Shopping Mall. Mujibar Rahman, president of the mall’s shop owners’ association, deflected responsibility:

“We are unaware of any prohibition. No formal notice has reached us. If an official order is served, we will naturally comply, but look around—every other market is doing the same.”

Tradition Versus National Interest

The defiance is particularly pronounced in the Gauchian Market area. Acting Manager Mohammed Kabil Hossain noted that decorative lighting is a staple tradition spanning from Shab-e-Barat through to Eid. “We follow the same routine every year,” he stated, adding that without a direct, written enforcement notice, the festive lights would stay on.

However, some establishments have begun to feel the pressure of enforcement. At Makkah Shopping Mall, Manager Tanveer Rahman confirmed that officials from the Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) visited on Monday evening to issue a verbal warning. Despite the warning, the lights remained on that night, with management promising compliance only from the following day.

The Enforcement Challenge

Helal Uddin, President of the Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association, acknowledged the difficulty of ensuring total compliance. While the association has disseminated the instruction, many smaller vendors and independent malls have simply refused to listen. “We have requested assistance from the DPDC. Without rigorous state supervision and mobile courts, it is impossible to curb this wastage,” he remarked.

Energy Crisis Contextual Data

The Ministry has since taken to social media to announce that mobile courts are now being deployed across Dhaka to forcibly disconnect unnecessary lighting and penalise defaulters. As the global energy market remains volatile, the government views these “unnecessary flickers” not as festive cheer, but as a threat to national energy security.