The government has extended the permit to import potatoes to keep the market under control. Importers have increased the quantity of potatoes imported from India through Hili land port in Dinajpur as the prices are slightly higher at present. The importers said that they will continue to import potatoes until there is demand in the country’s market.
On Wednesday (April 3), 678 tons of potatoes were imported in 26 trucks through the port in one day. 348 tonnes of potatoes were imported in 13 trucks through the port on Tuesday. Besides, 57 tons of potatoes were imported in two trucks through the port on Monday. Import of potatoes through the port continues today, Thursday (April 4).
Sahabul Islam, a potato importer of Hili land port, said that the government has allowed the import of potatoes from India on February 1 to keep the supply of potatoes in the country’s market normal and prices under control. The permission to import potatoes was given till March 15. Later, the government decided to extend it till March 31. Once again, that deadline has been extended to April 30. The importers who got permission to import potatoes started importing potatoes from various land ports of the country including Heli from February 3. But due to the loss of importing potatoes, the import of potatoes through Hili land port was stopped after only 4 days of importation.
Pointing out that the price of potatoes imported from India was being sold at the port, it was being sold at a lower price than that in the market, he said. Recently, the importers of the port started importing potatoes after the price of potatoes increased in the country’s market and the import period was extended. At present, the cardinal variety of potato imported from India is being sold at the rate of Tk 36 to Tk 37 per kg by adding government duty of Tk 7 to Tk 8 per kg. But in the country’s market, Cardinal potato is currently being sold at the rate of 32 taka, due to which the importers are not importing this potato. At present, white diamond potatoes are being imported through the port, which after paying the duty, the price is 28 to 29 rupees at the port. This type of potato is being sold at the port at 30 to 32 taka per kg. Importers have increased the quantity of potato imports due to the increase in the price of domestic potatoes due to some fall in the import of this variety of potatoes.
Hili Land Port Public Relations Officer Sohrab Hossain said that potatoes were being imported irregularly through the port since the import permit was obtained. However, the import of potatoes through the port increased slightly this week. And as a result of the import of potatoes, the revenue of the government has increased as well as the daily income of the port authority. Along with that, the income of the workers working in the port has increased a lot. Besides, since potato is a raw product, the port authority has taken all kinds of measures so that the importers can clear the potato from the port quickly after all customs procedures.
Yusuf Ali, assistant pest control officer of Heli land port plant pest control center, said that the government allowed the import of potatoes on February 1 to keep the supply of potatoes in the country normal and to keep the price under control. 50 importers from Hili land port got permission to import about 35 thousand tonnes of potatoes. Importers started importing potatoes through Hili land port from last February 3. The permit to import potatoes was fixed till March 15. Later, in order to control the price of potatoes in the country’s market and in view of the request of traders, the period was extended till March 31. As that period has passed and the price of potatoes in the country market has not been controlled, the government has again extended the import permit period by 1 month till April 30. Authorized importers can import potatoes till this deadline. These potatoes imported through the port are tested and given certificates so that they can be released quickly.
Incidentally, the government allowed the import of potatoes on October 30 last year when the price went up on the pretext of low supply. The government set the deadline for extending the deadline on December 15. Subsequently, the import of potatoes was stopped from December 15 as the deadline expired. Later, when the potato market in the country went up again, the government allowed the import of potatoes on February 1, and the import of potatoes through the port started from February 3.
