A prolonged shortage of piped gas in parts of Dhaka has triggered a sharp rise in demand for electric cooking appliances as households seek alternatives to unreliable gas supplies.
The crisis began on July 22 after disruptions involving fl oating storage and regasifi cation units (FSRUs) cut liquefi ed natural gas supplies to the national grid by around 450 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD), or nearly 17 percent.
Although supplies have improved in some areas, daytime gas pressure remains inadequate in many households.
The disruption has boosted sales of infrared and rice cookers in particular.
Industry players estimate Bangladesh’s annual electric cooker market at less than Tk200 crore.
RFL Chief Marketing Offi cer Murshid Muneem said demand for infrared cookers had more than doubled year-on-year, while rice cooker sales had increased by around 200-300 percent.