Despite 'adequate' production in the country, the onion market has been volatile for quite some time due to syndicates. In such a situation, the government announced the import of onions from India. Onions have already started arriving from India. On the first day, 1 thousand 467 metric tons of onion arrived from India.
Among them, 1 thousand 62 metric tons of onions have arrived in the country through Sona Masjid land port of Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj, 330 metric tons through Bhomra land port of Satkhira and 75 metric tons through Benapole land port.
Meanwhile, after the start of onion import, the price of one kg in Khatunganj, Chattogram, one of the largest wholesale markets of the country, has decreased by Tk. 25. In this regard, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) said that after the announcement of the import, the price was proved to be reduced; the price was increased by manipulation. Some traders have syndicated and increased the prices.
Due to sufficient onion production in the country, the government stopped the onion import permit on March 15. Later, on this pretext, the price of the product increased by two and a half to three times in a span of two months. Finally, last Sunday, the government allowed import of onions from India.
Local onions were sold at 60 to 65 taka in wholesale market Khatunganj on Monday. Talking to the traders, it is known that even last Sunday, small-sized local variety onions were sold at Tk. 85 to Tk 88. Big onion was Tk. 90-95 per kg.
Mohammad Idris, general secretary of Hamidullah Mia market Welfare Association of Khatunganj, Chattogram, said that the price of onion has decreased. There were very few buyers in the market. Sales are also down. He said, the imported onion will be in the market in the next two days. Then the price will decrease further.
Meanwhile, onion was sold at Tk. 75 to Tk. 80 per kg in the capital's retail market on Monday, which was Tk. 90 to Tk. 100 or more two days ago. On the other hand, the price of onion has decreased from Tk. 20 to Tk. 25 per kg in the wholesale market. There is information that there are few buyers in the wholesale market in Dhaka.
Sources in the Ministry of Agriculture said that due to the abnormal increase in onion prices, the government has decided to import to reduce the suffering of the working people and to protect the interests of all consumers. Basically, after this announcement, the price of onion has started to decrease.
Masud Howladar, a grocer in Vijaynagar, Dhaka, said that the prices in the wholesale market have decreased due to the start of imports. That's why I am selling at the purchase price (Tk. 80).
President of Shyambazar Agricultural Commodity Traders Association Haji Md. Saeed said, the wholesaler has become destitute. Even if the goods are available, buyers are not available. Selling at Tk. 60 to Tk. 65 per kg. If imported onion comes in, the price will decrease further. However, this business leader thinks that it will take two to four days.
According to Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data, last Thursday (June 1) onion was sold at Tk. 80 per kg in the retail market. According to their market review data, onion prices have increased by 121.43 percent in one month. At this time last year, onion was sold in the market from Tk. 38 to Tk. 50, that is, the price of onion has increased by 76.14 percent in one year.