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Sales of refrigerators in city markets have marked a significant rise ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, according to traders.
The demand for the home appliance usually goes up during the time of this religious festival every year for the preservation of meat of sacrificial animals, they said.
Besides, various brands try to lure customers with offer of gifts and discounts on fridges to boost their sales.
Sources said around 35 per cent of the total annual sales of refrigerators takes place ahead of Eid-ul-Azha across the country.
During visits to several shopping malls in the city, including Bashundhara City and Bangabandhu Stadium market, this correspondent found most of the fridge showrooms packed with customers.
Traders have also increased stock levels to meet the growing demand.
Md Jahangir Alam, branch manager of Butterfly Marketing Limited at the stadium market, said sales of both refrigerators and freezer (commonly known as deep fridge) have seen a significant growth in recent times.
"Our refrigerators with a capacity of 250 litre to 300 litre are the most-sold items," he said.
The price of a 250-litre freezer starts from Tk 30,000.
The company sells refrigerators of international brands LG and Eco+.
Fridges with capacity of up to 700 litre cost as high as Tk 350,000, said Alam.
The business outlet is selling a new model of 'Instaview' fridges having some smart features.
"The fridge is equipped with door-in-door facility and a display panel showing necessary information," he said.
Presently, the company has come up with scratch card offers, through which a customer can get price discount up to 100 per cent and win various prizes.
Emran Hossain, a salesman of Esquire Electronics limited, the distributor of Japanese Sharp refrigerators, said they offer equated monthly installment (EMI) facility at zero per cent interest rate for up to 18 months and free home delivery to attract customers.
"Customers mostly opt for 160-litre and 210-litre freezers, whose prices are Tk 25,000 and Tk 30,900 respectively," he said.
According to his estimate, around one-third of total annual sales takes place ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.
Sources said at least 30 companies are selling refrigerators in the country and most of them are manufactured in China while a few brands are assembled in the country.
Local brand Rangs is marketing various types of refrigerators ahead of the religious festival.
A 100-litre Rangs freezer is priced at Tk 16,750, said the company's stadium market outlet in-charge Tanvir Hossain.
The company sells a 423-litre deep fridge at Tk 39,000, he added.
"Prices of our appliances have significantly been reduced this time as we are offering a discount of 30 per cent," he said.
He expressed satisfaction over the sales ahead of the Eid.
"However, we faced slow sales at the beginning of this month due to students' protests in the capital demanding safe road," he said.
Nazrul Islam, a customer, who was looking for a mid-sized freezer at the Rangs showroom, said he had been eagerly waiting for the discount offers.
"Various offers made by the companies attract many customers like me when Eid-ul-Azha comes closer," he said.
Contacted over the phone, local brand Walton's director (operative) Uday Hakim said the conglomerate has set a target of selling 0.5 million refrigerators in the two months ahead of the Eid.
"And we are about to achieve the target," he claimed.
According to his estimate, this year will see sales of around 2.3 million refrigerators across the country.