>> After a decrease of Tk 20 per kg, it increased by Tk 20 again in two days
>> Onions coming from the border ‘in different ways’ are in the market
Onion will be imported from India, the news has been heard for quite some time. The country’s second largest wholesale market Khatunganj of Chittagong has become unstable due to such news. The price decreases one day and increases one day. There is no relief even among onion sticklers. Traders say, ‘Onion is coming’ from India, ‘Onion is coming’ announcement has made the market unstable. Traders from any other country are not doing LC in the hope of Indian onion. As a result, there is a crisis in supply. They also say that the traders of Khatunganj would have been relieved if onion came from India or if the final decision was taken not to import it.
Although the supply of onion in the country’s market is normal, the government has started bargaining for onion import from India as the price did not decrease. Bangladesh sent a formal letter to India to allow certain quantity of sugar and onion exports to reduce prices in the country’s market during the holy month of Ramadan. At noon on February 18, Commerce State Minister Ahsanul Islam Titu told reporters in his office at the Secretariat that one and a half lakh tons of sugar and onions will be imported from India before fasting. Out of this, 50 thousand tons of onions and 1 lakh metric tons of sugar.
After that, India also allowed the export of onions in limited quantities to Bangladesh. This permission has been given on the basis of the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country. Apart from Bangladesh, India has also allowed limited export of onion to Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bahrain and Mauritius.
After such an announcement by the Indian government, the price of onion in the country started to be affected. Prices started falling in Khatunganj, the wholesale market of Chittagong. However, the price of onion has increased again as Indian onion did not come in the market even after three days.
Read more>> India gives in-principle consent to supply onions to Bangladesh: Minister of State for Commerce
India stopped onion exports from December 8 to maintain supply in the local market. After that, the price in the Bangladesh market started to increase. The price of onion rose up to Tk 240 in the country’s market. Later, when domestic onions started coming in the market, onions were sold in 50-60 kg. From the beginning of February, the price has increased again and now it is being sold at Tk 120-130 per kg.
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) says that domestic onion is being sold at Tk 110-120 per kg and imported onion at Tk 100-120 per kg in the retail markets of Dhaka city. Even a month ago, desi onion was Tk 65-75 and a year ago at this time, the price was only Tk 30-35 per kg.
On the other hand, a month ago the price of imported onion was Tk 80-90 per kg and a year ago at the same time the price of imported onion was Tk 35-40.
Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon, a large stock of onions can be seen in the fields of Khatunganj and Chaktai. There are many varieties of desi onions in almost every market. There are also Indian Nasik varieties of onions. Traders say, on the news of onion import from India, the price fell by Rs 20 per kg and increased again on Thursday.
Read more>> No one is returning from the market empty-handed: Minister of State for Commerce
Tahsinul Karim, manager of Bashar and Sons in Madhyam Chaktai, told Jago News that Chittagong now has native onions. Meherpuri and Chuadanga good quality thick onions are being sold wholesale at 80 taka. Indian onion is said to arrive but has not arrived yet. The onions which are now in the Indian market, in the past came to the country from the border in ‘various ways’. They are being sold at Tk 120 per kg.
He claimed that border-centric syndicates control Indian onions. Chittagong’s small onion importers have stopped opening LCs for other countries due to the news of Indian onion arrival. But now the price of onion in the market is not supposed to be so much. If the government informed the businessmen of Chittagong that onion will not be brought from India, many businessmen would have imported it. Many small importers of Chittagong are ready to import onions from other countries of the world. At present there is an opportunity to import onion from some countries including Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, China. If these onions were imported, onions would not have to be sold for more than 50-60 rupees in the market.
M/s JK of Madhyam Chaktai is seen selling Indian onions in trading. The manager of that store said that these Indian onions are being sold wholesale for Tk 120 per kg.
Khatunganj Messrs. Allah’s gift of onion is said. With Suman. He said, we currently have indigenous onion from Chuadanga. Selling at Tk 74-78 per kg. Moreover, Pabna’s chopped onions are being sold at Tk 95 per kg.
Read more>> Most of the daily commodities stuck at high prices
General Secretary of Khatunganj Lamar Bazaar Traders Association on Thursday afternoon. Idris told Jago News that the price of onion in Khatunganj and Chaktai had decreased by Tk 20 per kg due to the news of onion arrival from India. Indian onion came to 95-100 rupees. Today (Thursday) it has again increased to 116-117 Tk. Besides, domestic Meherpuri onions are also being sold at Tk 65-75 per kg. Desi Murikata variety of onion is being sold at Tk 95-100.
Iqbal Hussain/MHR/ASM
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