Chilli imports from India have started increasing to augment the supply due to booming chilli market in the country. In the last two days, 677 metric tons of green chillies have entered from India in 57 trucks. Of this, 354 tons entered 29 trucks on October 14 and 323 tons entered 28 trucks on October 15.
After being released from Benapole port, the green pepper is going to different parts of the country including Kawran Bazar in Dhaka. However, ordinary buyers have called for increased surveillance so that the imported pepper does not fall into the hands of syndicates.
C&F traders clearing goods from the port said that the import price per ton is Tk. 60,000. Import duty is about Tk. 36 thousand. Including other expenses should not be more than Tk. 120 per kg. However, importers said that due to price hike in India too, they had to buy green chillies at twice the price.
It is known that natural calamities especially during the monsoon season due to submergence of low-lying land lead to the crisis of green chillies. And at this time, some profit-seeking businessmen syndicated and increased the price of pepper in the market. As a result, the price of green chilli rose from Tk. 200 to Tk. 350 per kg within a week. Common and low income people are in more trouble. The government has finally eased the import process to control the unbridled market of green chillies. But last year due to the syndicate, the market of green chillies increased from Tk. 100 to Tk. 1000 per kg.
A buyer named Mofizur Rahman said that they have to buy pepper at a much higher price than the import price. The administration must ensure that the imported green chillies do not fall into the hands of syndicates.
Ujjal Biswas, the representative of the importer of green pepper, said that immediately after the release from the port, the supply of pepper has started within the country. The imported pepper has been sent to various places including Karwan Bazar in the capital. I hope that if the import increases like this, the price will come down in the market.
Hemant Kumar Sarkar, deputy assistant director of Benapole plant pest control center, said that 677 tonnes of green chillies were allowed to be released from the port in two days after the formalities were completed as the quality of the chillies was tested and suitable for consumption.