Drug stores to stay open 24 hours: Health minister 

Drug stores in Dhaka and across the country will remain open 24 hours, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque.

"The sale of medicines and pharmaceutical items at drug stores will be allowed 24/7 as it is an emergency service," he announced, talking to the media after a meeting at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Thursday.

The minister said, "We did not give any instructions regarding the closure of pharmacies after 12 midnight. The city corporation (Dhaka South City Corporation) decided to restrict medicine sales after midnight without any discussion with us."

 "We will talk to the city corporations about this. Drug stores will be allowed to remain open all day. If the city corporation wants anything different, they will have to sit with us," he added.

Earlier in the week, Dhaka South City Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said staying open till 12 midnight is enough time for pharmacies. 

"The drug stores in the capital will remain open till 12 midnight from 1 September but the medicine shops near hospitals will be allowed to remain open till 2am," he had said.

"This time is more than enough. We gave a public notice that everything in Dhaka must come under a routine," the mayor added. 

On Monday, Dhaka South City Corporation published a notice saying that to save power and keep up with rising fuel prices, all businesses in Dhaka South will close at 8pm. 

All restaurants will be shut down by 10pm while cinema halls and other entertainment establishments can remain open till 11pm.

The notice also said, to manage Dhaka city, all businesses must operate within set hours.