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Other than being handy, these appliances are cost-effective and very easy to maintain, he added.

Increased income and availability of electricity in the country’s rural areas also fuelled the demand for electronic kitchen appliances in both urban and rural areas.

Market leader Walton saw a sharp rise in home appliance sales amid the ongoing crisis.

The sales of Walton’s washing machine grew 40 per cent year-on-year in 2020, when other home appliances also witnessed a boom in demand, according to Al Imran, chief executive officer of Walton Home Appliance.

The industry has huge potential at home and abroad. But it needs suitable policy support to tap into those opportunities, Imran added.

Singer, a major player in the local electronics market, told The Daily Star in a statement that the pandemic forced many localities into lockdown for months. During this period, the use of home and kitchen appliances has increased by manifold.

This led to a positive outcome for the local kitchen appliance market as it required to support the increased demand, Singer said.

Brands such as Singer and BEKO, and even non-brand manufacturers saw their profits grow as a result.

To utilise the opportunity, brands soon came up with promotional offers such as cashback and discounts.

“The use of modern technologies has changed our daily lives by a large margin compared to how it used to be just a decade back,” the statement said.

“We have been gifted with convenience and comfort by gadgets such as toasters, pressure cookers and electric kettles, which are more advanced than ever thanks to the magic touch of technology,” it added.