Fire extinguishers sale increases due to blockade violence

There is a slump in business hit by the BNP-led alliance’s agitation, but there is a windfall for some.

A drastic fall in sales recently forced a large section of businessmen even to demonstrate demanding end to violence during the protests.

But in sharp contrast to their plight, a few shops at Old Dhaka’s Nawabpur Road are doing a brisk business since firebombing on vehicles started in the beginning of the transport blockade.

These shops sell fire extinguishers.

So much so that these businessmen are even having a hard time meeting the soaring demand and the customers accuse them of price-gouging.

But even the price hike is not denting sales.

According to government’s statistics, 1,173 vehicles and six launches have been torched in 50 days of the blockade.

As the number of incidents of arson increased so were the demand for fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting tools.

The shops located at Nawabpur Road import these instruments from China and distribute among others across Bangladesh.

Importer Aminul Ferdous said the sale shot up in the first week of the blockade.

“The stock of small extinguishers finished that week. Those who kept additional stock are now selling them at a higher price,” he said.

Ferdous, who owns the shop Safe and Safety, said owners of private cars were the main customers of the small extinguishers.

“It’s a seasonal demand. No one will buy these once the violence stops,” he said.

Owner of KS International Nizam Uddin Biplu said some of the bus services also bought ‘big fire extinguishers’ of five-kilogram.

According to him, the demand of fire extinguishers weighing one to two kilogram increased.

“They were sold overnight,” he said.

NGO executive Mariamnesa Munni bought a two-kilogram extinguisher for her car.
  
“You can’t say what will happen on the streets. It may help tackle the situation if something happens,” she said.
  
The price of an extinguisher of one to two kilogram had sold at Tk 650-700 before the blockade. Now it costs Tk 1,000-1,100.
  
The five-kilogram extinguishers sell for Tk 1,000 each.
 

Hanif Paribahan Manager Mohammad Ripon said expensive air-conditioned vehicles use extinguishers mostly.

KS Internatiobal owner Nizam said the demand for refilling the extinguishers also rose.

“Many bought cylinders. Now they are thinking those should be refilled,” he said.

Sama International owner Liton Patwary said the use of extinguishers had actually increased a few years ago following a devastating fire at Nimtali in the capital.

“But the demand has risen multiple times now,” he said.

About the supply shortfall, he said, “The extinguishers lay idle all over the years as no one buys these. So we did not import many.”

“No one expected such a situation. Otherwise, many would have ordered for more and stocked them,” he added.