The Mandalay Division Development Committee has issued a directive requiring all shops in Mandalay to install glass doors and panels, following instructions from military council leader Min Aung Hlaing. This order comes in the aftermath of the devastating Sagaing earthquake that struck on March 28 this year, resulting in hundreds of casualties in the earthquake-affected Mandalay region. The directive was issued on September 6, following Min Aung Hlaing’s return from China.
According to the Mandalay Development Committee, the mandatory installation of glass doors and panels aims to transform the city’s streetscape to match modern cities worldwide. A similar order was also issued in Pyin Oo Lwin, with the municipal committee releasing a follow-up directive on September 11 requiring all shops to install glass doors and panels. A military source in Naypyidaw suggests that this initiative may have been inspired by observations of similar installations in Chinese street-side shops, where glass panels and doors are commonly used.
However, this impractical and costly requirement has created significant hardship for shop owners in Mandalay, who are already struggling with the economic impact of the earthquake that caused extensive damage to lives and property. A shoe shop owner, who lost both home and shop in the earthquake, reported that while renting a temporary space, the landlord is demanding shared costs for the glass installation, threatening increased rent if tenants refuse to contribute to the expenses.
The Mandalay Development Committee has set September 30 as the deadline for all shops to comply with the glass installation requirement. Non-compliance will result in fines and legal action, with repeat offenders being placed on a disciplinary list. A third violation will lead to a one-month shop closure penalty. Local residents point out that issuing such impractical orders during a time when earthquake victims are facing numerous challenges only adds to the burden on the public, who are already struggling to recover from the natural disaster.
