Sales of instant power supply (IPS), uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and such other rechargeable electric appliances now see a significant rise for power outages amid an enervating hot weather.
Traders said after the first week of this month the sales of such items were gradually increasing and now their daily turnovers increased almost three-to fourfold over a normal day's trading.
The demands for such items, mainly IPS, UPS and rechargeable fans, continued to gradually increase day by day in the toughest time of load shedding coupled with high summer temperatures as such stuffs significantly help people lead a bit normal life.
During a visit to some of the key city markets, including Stadium Market, New Market, Multiplan City and Magbazar, a good number of customers were seen knocking at the outlets of such products that provide some relief in the wake of off-again, on-again electricity supply across the country.
Talking to the FE correspondent, Md. Habibur Rahman, chairman of H. Rahman & Company, at its outlet of electric products at the city's Stadium Market said they had witnessed a gradual surge in the selling of IPS and rechargeable fans and lights especially from the middle of this month.
He said now they can sell around 10 to 12 IPS daily and rechargeable fans numbering around 20 to 22.
"Even at the beginning this month we could sell only two to three IPS daily and four to five rechargeable fans."
The businessman said though sales of such products had increased from the middle of the month, remarkable swellings had been seen over the last few days.
He said prices of IPS slightly increased and price of a rechargeable fan increased by around Tk 150 to Tk 200 as suppliers increased prices of such items following the increased demands.
Mr Rahman said price range of such products also varies according to the capacity and quality
"At my outlet price range of IPS is Tk 8,000 to Tk 325,000 and price range of rechargeable fan is Tk 1,600 to Tk 3,600," he added.
Ehtasmul Haque, the owner of an electronic products outlet at the Multiplan City, said they had witnessed an upturn in sale of their UPS since the beginning of this month. The sales significantly increased over last few days.
"There are comparatively more outages in the city over the last few days, which I think may be the main reason behind the increased sales of UPS," he added.
He said now their daily average UPS sale comes to around 15 to 20 and price also varies according to the capacity.
"In my shop the lowest price of UPS is Tk 2,500 and the highest around Tk 32,000".
Junel Sowkot, manager of Multimedia Kingdom at the Multiplan City, said in the last few days they had sold a significant number of UPS.
"Even our stocks of UPS have also run out," he added.
Golam Mowla, an inhabitant of the city's Mirpur area, was buying a rechargeable fan and IPS from the Stadium Market. He told the FE that during last seven or eight days, he had faced multiple outages daily.
He said during the last few days average temperatures were 36 to 37 degrees Celsius. Though normally it is difficult to lead life, but in this situation if load shedding occurs frequently, life becomes unbearable.
"Load shedding and increasing temperatures compelled me to come here and to buy an IPS and rechargeable fan," he said.
Mr Mawla said in this hot weather study of his children also was being significantly hampered for want of electricity, fan and light as they can't tolerate such adverse situation.
Rashed Khan, who works at a software company, was seen buying a UPS from the Multiplan City. He said he works in a software company which needs continuous electricity supply but last few days frequent load shedding impeded their normal work pace.
"Today I just bought four UPS at 9000 per piece for our company," said Rashed about the problem facing their one among thousands of firms and factories engaged in production and trade.
Government authorities cited certain supply-line problem and maintenance work on some power-generation plants as reasons for the load shedding, as a high demand amid high summer outstrips supply.               
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Source: The Financial Express