In an attempt to lower the cost of such a necessary item in the neighborhood kitchen market, the government has taken the initiative to import about 52,000 metric tons of onions from India in opposition to the LCs launched previously.
The Bangladesh High Commission has already received a letter from the Ministry of Commerce requesting that they take the appropriate steps in this regard.
In addition, each deputy commissioner has been requested to oversee tight oversight in their assigned regions in order to guarantee that onions are sold at fair prices at the kitchen market.
On December 7, India banned the export of onions, which caused the price of onions to skyrocket on the local market. However, LCs were opened in Bangladesh for the import of about 52,000 metric tons of onions from India prior to the ban’s implementation. The administration has now started the process of bringing in that much onion from India in the near future.
Senior Secretary for the Commerce Ministry Tapan Kanti Ghosh told BSS that plans have been made to import 52,000 metric tons of onions from India as soon as LCs in this respect were opened earlier, prior to the neighboring country imposing the restriction.
“We’ve taken various initiatives to keep the price of onion under control. Efforts are also on to increase the import of onion from alternate countries. Alongside these, the sale of onion will continue among the low-income group of people by the TCB,” he said, adding that the concerned deputy commissioners have been asked to monitor the selling of onion at a rational price in the districts.
The Commerce Ministry Senior Secretary also called upon the business community of the country to become more responsible so that the common people do not suffer from the higher prices of essential items.
“It’s not always right that the government will fix everything. The businessmen will also have to perceive that businesses are meant for the country’s people. The Indian government banned the export of onion one day while the price of onion soars in our country on the other day. It is not responsible behavior from the business community,” Tapan added.
Earlier in the day while addressing a seminar at the NBR Bhaban in the capital’s Agargaon area on the National VAT Day, Tapan questioned how the price of onion could rise by Taka 80 per KG in the country within a span of one day.
“How could a trader who sold onion at Taka 120 per KG one day earlier, sell that item at Taka 200 per KG on the next day? It would have taken a lot of time to let the price to rise. But, the businesses didn’t show any morality for being profit-mongers in this regard,” he added.
The Senior Commerce Secretary also disclosed that nationwide initiatives have been carried out by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) to regulate the cost of necessities, such as onions.
