Import of onion from India has remained suspended following the export price hike by New Delhi due to less production.
However, the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has continued to import onion through the Benapole land port.
On Sunday (October 1), as mch as 201 tonnes of onion were imported through Benapole land port. The onion entered Bangladesh from India on seven trucks.
TCB imported 3,800 metric tonnes of red lentil till February 2 in the current fiscal, while it imported 3,200 metric tonnes of red lentil till December 21 last fiscal and 2,211 metric tonnes of onion till December 4.
It is learnt that though the import pricve of each kg of onion was cost Tk 55, the TCB will sell the onion to the low income group of people in open market at fair prices in different parts of the country. The customs and port authorities have been extending cooperation to the TCB so that the onion is released from the port as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, onion prices have gone skyrocketed in the market after import from India has declined due to various complications. However, retailers have expressed the hope that the onion prices may decline in the market as the government has started import of onion through the TCB.
TCB sells essential items at fair prices to one crore low-income families through cards.
It arranges "truck sale" across the country to sell edible oil at Tk 110 per kg, sugar at Tk 55 per kg, red lentil at Tk 65 per kg and onion at Tk 30 per kg.
