Projector sales double amid FIFA World Cup

Shajedul Islam Sajal, who lives in the WASA staff quarter near Pallabi Extension in Dhaka's Mirpur, had pooled his money with other youths in the area to buy a projector for Tk 15,000 before the FIFA World Cup began on November 20 this year.

Projectors are set up in various places every time the quadrennial tournament takes place so that local football fans can enjoy the matches on a big screen with other people.

Similarly, Mohammad Nazmul Hassan of Sarishabari upazila in Jamalpur bought a projector for Tk 16,000 for the same purpose.

"There is a different kind of joy in watching matches this way," he said.

Retailers say projector sales usually increase in a big way whenever the World Cup comes around and this year is no exception. The demand for projectors priced between Tk 10,000 and Tk 15,000 is particularly high at the moment as the tournament has entered its final phase.

Different models of Chinese brand Cheerlux are seeing the highest sales due to their affordable prices while other high-end projectors are also flying off the shelves.

Tuhin Jubayed, manager of the Multiplan Center in Dhaka's Elephant Road, one of the largest shopping malls in Bangladesh, said the number of projectors being sold centring this year's World Cup is more than double what it was during the 2018 edition.

"Many people, even those living in villages, come to Dhaka to buy projectors every time the World Cup takes place," he added.

Jubayed then said that while they can sell up to 10 projectors daily during normal times, sales during the World Cup season can exceed even 20 units per day.

An official of Unique Business System Limited, which retails projectors, said projector prices have increased this year due to complexities in opening letters of credit and increased import costs.

"So, the less expensive units are being sold more than the expensive ones," he added.

However, he went on to say that the number of projectors being sold is still higher at present than what it was in previous years.

Importers and traders say about 2,000 projectors are sold in Bangladesh every year for general use in offices, restaurants or at home. But in years the World Cup is held, about 10,000 units are sold.

The 22nd FIFA World Cup taking place in Qatar is the first to be held in the Arab world, and second in Asia after the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan.