Dhaka: There is no condition to stay outside the house in the heat of the sun. You can’t live without a fan inside the house. People suffering from severe heat wave. During this time, the use of fans, AC and air conditioners increased. As a result, the demand for electricity has increased. In the last one week, the demand for electricity has increased by more than 3000 megawatts. It is load shedding. As a result, the demand for fans, rechargeable fans, air conditioners and air coolers has increased. However, consumers are disappointed as prices rise due to increase in import costs and complications in opening LCs.
Since Eid, the temperature sometimes rises to 35 degrees and sometimes to 38 degrees Celsius. Chuadanga recorded a temperature of 42.3 degrees Celsius last Saturday (April 20) at 3 pm. When people’s lives are overrun in such unbearable temperatures, the fan and AC shops are crowded.
All major cooling appliance markets across the capital are witnessing a rush as consumers look for ways to escape the unbearable heat. Along with the demand, the price also increased. The price of rechargeable fans has increased significantly. Many people are buying rechargeable fans, lamps and IPS in hopes of some relief from the darkness when the power goes out.
Crowd of potential buyers has been seen in some markets of the capital. The use of rechargeable fans has increased, as they provide relief air for some time without electricity. Various brands of rechargeable fans, such as Vision, Walton, Click, Sanka and Singer – are available in the market. There are also small and tabletop rechargeable fans.
However, many local companies are also manufacturing rechargeable fans, thereby reducing the country’s dependence on imported products. But there is less competition in the market due to less importers.
It is known that the demand for fans and ACs has increased since last March. The supply is tight compared to the demand. Brand shops are not supplying fans as required by local shops. That’s why they have to sell non brand and foreign fans. On the other hand, the buyers say that the sellers are pushing the price as they wish.
A buyer who came to buy a fan says that the price of small non-brand typhoon fans is 850 to 900 taka. But last year their price was 450 to 500 taka. The heat has increased now one fan does not work. So I came to buy another fan.
Another buyer said, Defender brand 12 inch fan is asking 3 thousand 500 taka somewhere 4 thousand taka. And a 14 inch fan of the same brand is being asked for 5 thousand taka.
Small stands (9-10 inches) or typhoon fans are being sold for Tk 750 to Tk 1,600 in various markets of the capital. Different brands of stand fans are being sold at 2000 to 8000 taka. Besides, domestic brand ceiling fans are selling from Tk 1,700 to Tk 3,500 and foreign brand ceiling fans are selling at Tk 4,500 to Tk 10,000.
Meanwhile, along with fans, the demand for AC has increased. Going to Esquire Electronics, it is known that one ton AC is being sold at 74 thousand taka, one and a half ton AC is being sold at 1 lakh 21 thousand taka. Vision AC is being sold at 47 thousand and 65 thousand for one and a half ton. Besides, gree is being sold at 51 thousand taka per ton.
Showroom sales representatives say that both inverter and non-inverter ACs are selling well. But most of the buyers do not know what type of AC to buy. Apart from this, the AC installation charge is Tk 10,000. And there is a small discount for buyers.
Sajid Hossain sells rechargeable fans from a shop located in front of Shah Ali Market in the capital. I sold over 50 in a few weeks. I have only 7-8 fans left in my shop.
“People flock here because our prices are a little lower than other shops,” he said. When asked about the price, he said, “The price of a 12-inch rechargeable fan is 4,000 taka, and the price of a 14-inch fan is 5,000 to 5,500 taka.” A large rechargeable fan costs between Rs 8,000 and Rs 9,000.”
According to Sonali News, the price of almost every size fan has increased by 1000 to 2000 rupees. Demand for rechargeable fans has increased due to power shortage and severe load shedding.”
Traders say, if we buy high, how can we sell low? Companies have raised prices. We have nothing to do with sudden increases.
Meanwhile, those who can afford it are buying air-conditioned (AC) units. However, due to increased demand, traders have increased the prices of these products by 26 percent. An AC unit that was previously priced at Tk 50,000 is now being sold at Tk 55,000. Along with fans, the prices of air conditioners and air coolers have increased. People who are unable to afford AC units are turning to air coolers.
It is known that many buyers are selling fans for Tk 9,500, the price of which was Tk 7,000 to Tk 8,000 a few weeks ago. A fan that was priced at Rs 3000 is now being sold at Rs 4000-5000, whereas a fan that was priced at Rs 4000-5000 is now being sold at Rs 7000-8000.
Retailers and wholesalers are blaming the importers for this. They claim that the charger fan market was stable even before Eid. Importers suddenly increased the prices two or three days ago. There is no chance of bargaining, rather they do not take back any fan even if its quality is bad. In the last two days, the price of some fans has increased by more than a thousand rupees.
Most of those who import these fans from China are from Nawabpur’s Mozammel and Ruhul Amin Electric Market. A wholesale trader there, on condition of anonymity, said there are three top importers in this market. The price is set according to their will. They have increased the price of all types of charger fans in the last two-three days due to the increase in heat intensity. It also happened that in the morning the wholesale price of a charger fan was 3 thousand 50 taka. But with the same voucher, the fan was not given at that rate in the evening. Each fan had to pay an additional 200 taka.
President of Bangladesh Electrical Association Ruhul Amin said, ‘Now there is no load shedding in Dhaka. Unreasonable increase in prices due to heat is unfair. Consumer Directorate can take action in this regard. We have no objection to that.’
The former president of the organization Shahadat Hossain Bhuiyan said that the price has increased abnormally. Those who are increasing the prices by syndicate, the common traders of Nawabpur are against them. These syndicate traders need to be brought under the law.
AH/SI
Tags: demand fans ACs air conditioners increased due intense heat prices skyrocketed
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