In Shyambazar, Old Dhaka, Taslima Begum had long relied on LPG cylinders for cooking. But when her gas ran out late on Tuesday night, repeated calls to distributors brought no replacement.
With prices rising and supplies uncertain, she turned to an alternative. Visiting Chandrima Super Market, she bought an electric stove.
Her experience reflects a wider shift underway across the country.
Since the Mideast war disrupted global energy markets, households have increasingly begun switching to electric cooking options such as induction, inverter and infrared stoves.
Retailers say demand has been building for some time but has accelerated in recent weeks.
In Lakshmibazar, a major electronics hub in Old Dhaka, shops display rows of modern electric stoves, signalling strong consumer interest.
Both buyers and sellers say these appliances can reduce cooking costs compared with LPG. However, frequent power outages mean many households are keeping electric stoves as a backup rather than a full replacement.
The latest price hike in LPG has intensified the shift.
The government raised the price of a 12kg cylinder by 29 per cent to Tk1,728. In practice, however, consumers report paying between Tk1,900 and Tk2,200, depending on location.
For many families, a single cylinder no longer lasts a full month, increasing the overall cost of cooking.
As a result, some households are now maintaining both gas and electric options to manage expenses.
“Gas is hardly available during the day,” said Sharmin Rahman, a housewife from Dholai Par. “There is some supply at night, but not consistently. Cooking has become very difficult, so I bought an induction cooker.”
The shift is visible beyond households.
Several roadside tea stalls at Shankharibazar intersection have installed induction stoves to keep operations running.
“We have to keep the business going, so I switched to an electric stove,” said tea seller Md Sabuj.
For small entrepreneurs, the rising cost of LPG is proving equally challenging.
“My family depends on the food I prepare and supply to offices,” said Raisaheb Bazar-based entrepreneur Sultana Begum. “I cannot afford higher-priced gas, so I turned to an electric stove.”
Demand for electric stoves has risen so sharply that some buyers in Lakshmi Bazar say they have returned home empty-handed.
Retailers confirm that several popular models are already out of stock, with prices climbing as demand continues to outpace supply.
“Whatever the price, we need this now to keep cooking going,” said Afsar Uddin, a customer browsing in Old Dhaka.
Retailers say the surge in demand reflects the depth of the gas shortage.
Sales of electric stoves have nearly doubled compared with normal periods, according to shopkeepers.
A similar trend is visible in Dhaka’s New Market and Chandrima Super Market, where buyers are increasingly turning away from LPG.
“Cylinder prices have gone up a lot,” said Aman Uddin, a customer at New Market. “We are taking whatever alternative is available.”
Supply disruptions are also driving bulk purchases.
At a shop in Rampura, Anis Rahman said he had repeatedly failed to secure LPG cylinders. “Even when you find one or two, the price is too high,” he said. “So I bought three electric stoves.”
Domestic production rises as demand grows
Bangladesh’s electric stove market, once heavily import-dependent, is now seeing growing participation from local manufacturers as demand accelerates.
Producers say monthly sales have crossed 100,000 units on average, reflecting a sharp shift in consumer behaviour.
Pran-RFL Group Deputy General Manager for Public Relations Touhiduzzaman said demand had risen suddenly in recent weeks. “We are seeing around a 30 per cent increase compared with earlier levels,” he told TIMES of Bangladesh.
He estimates annual demand for electric cookers has reached about 15 lakh units.
Walton Assistant Director Augustine Sujon Baroi said the company sells between 7,000 and 10,000 units a month. “Demand is clearly rising as consumers look for alternatives, and electric cookers are proving to be a reliable solution,” he said.
Industry players link the trend to both rising LPG prices and inconsistent gas pressure in many areas.
“In urban areas, consumers are increasingly moving towards modern, energy-efficient appliances,” said Kiam Metal Industries Managing Director Matiar Rahman Haider.
“That is gradually pushing up demand for electric cookers,” he added.
Prices and running costs
Sellers say the price of electric cookers varies depending on brand, technology and features.
Models from brands such as Walton, Vision, Gazi, Kiam, Miyako and Philips typically range between Tk3,500 and Tk6,000, while premium variants cost significantly more.
At RFL’s Best Buy showroom, a Vision induction cooker was selling for around Tk3,750, while an infrared model was priced at Tk4,100.
At Bengal Group’s Happy Mart, a Gazi premium inverter cooker was listed at Tk8,400, with induction models selling for about Tk4,800.
Lower-priced options from lesser-known brands such as Vigo, Nova and Prestige are also entering the market, while imported models with additional features are available at higher prices.
At Rangs e-Mart in Lakshmi Bazar, an Indian Havells induction cooker was priced at Tk5,800.
Running costs are a key factor behind rising demand.
Sharmin Sultana, a housewife in Raisaheb Bazar, said her household uses a 1,200-watt induction cooker. Based on their calculations, it consumes about 1.2 units of electricity per hour.
With average daily use of around four hours, the cost comes to roughly Tk34 to Tk38 a day, or between Tk1,000 and Tk1,150 a month.
Retailers say induction cookers use electromagnetic induction to heat cookware directly, reducing heat loss and making them relatively energy efficient. However, they require specific types of metal utensils.
Infrared cookers, by contrast, generate heat through halogen or infrared elements and can be used with a wider range of flat-bottomed cookware.
That flexibility is drawing some consumers towards infrared models, despite their relatively higher price.
