The decision was taken yesterday at the weekly meeting of the Council of Advisers with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed in the chair.

The Power Division placed a proposal before the council for considering the shopping-time extension by an hour to 8:00pm from 7:00pm in the wake of slight improvement in power generation.

The power authorities also listed the factors like increase in the duration of daytime and end of irrigation season. The meeting, after discussing pros and cons of the matter, approved the proposal.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim, who was present at the meeting, said the Power Division also mentioned the appeal of the leaders of Dhaka City Shop Owners Association for extending the business timing for shops, markets and shopping malls. The plea was made during their recent meeting with the power adviser.

On February 25, the caretaker government, following discussion with the leaders of the shop owners associations, cut short the business hours to 7 in the evening to save electricity.

Members of the Council of Advisers attended the meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office.