Bangladesh’s shop owners have demanded an immediate withdrawal of the mandatory 8pm closing time, saying businesses should be allowed to stay open later if they install rooftop solar panels within six months.
The Bangladesh Shop Owners Association has also called for special loans at just 2% interest to help markets and shopping centres install solar power systems and reduce their dependence on the national grid amid the ongoing electricity and fuel crisis.
The association said the government should provide loans through the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) or commercial banks for up to seven years on an instalment basis.
It said low-cost financing could enable shopping centres across the country to become substantially self-sufficient in electricity within six months.
At a press conference at the association’s office in Moghbazar on Thursday, its president, Md Helal Uddin, said small and medium-sized businesses were facing severe financial losses because of load-shedding and restrictions on shop opening hours.
He said load-shedding was beginning in some areas from around 6pm, while the 8pm closing requirement was further reducing evening sales.
“We are not willing to suffer from the electricity crisis for much longer,” Helal said. He argued that installing solar panels on shopping-centre rooftops could eventually reduce or eliminate electricity bills for some markets.
He also said surplus power could be supplied to the national grid on days when markets were closed.
2% loans sought for solar
The association has put forward a 10-point proposal for expanding solar power in markets and shopping centres.
It wants loans of up to seven years at an interest rate of 2%, with repayments made in instalments. It has also called for mandatory certification from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and IDCOL to ensure the quality of solar equipment, along with regular monitoring.
The association wants markets that install solar systems to be exempted from licence fees and service charges related to the installations.
It has also called for easier arrangements to sell surplus solar electricity to the national grid at a rate of 10.5%, as well as faster supply and installation of equipment through agreements between the relevant power authorities and the association.
The group has proposed a temporary regulatory board for three months to oversee solar installation and address technical or implementation problems.
It also wants approval procedures simplified for markets facing structural-approval complications, including privately owned markets and those under city corporations, municipalities or district councils.
A sustainable fund should also be established to help cover installation costs and repay solar loans, the association said.
Potential for 2,000-2,500MW
Helal said cheap financing could allow markets across the country to make a significant contribution to electricity generation.
“If loans are provided at 2% interest for five or seven years, we will be able to generate 2,000MW to 2,500MW of electricity across the country in the shortest possible time,” he said.
He said Bangladesh has shopping centres in districts and upazilas across the country, creating considerable potential for rooftop solar generation.
The association said the solar initiative could help small and medium-sized traders cope with the continuing power crisis while reducing pressure on the national electricity system.
It has therefore linked the removal of the 8pm closing restriction to a commitment by businesses to install their own solar systems within six months.