Stop imports of luxury fruits ahead of Ramadan: DNCRP

The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) has recommended the commerce ministry to stop the import of high-cost foreign fruits during the upcoming Ramadan to keep the market stable as well as to save foreign currency.

The directorate, however, has urged the ministry to provide assistance for the import of five types of fruits, dates, malta, apples, oranges and grapes, which are necessary for Ramadan, said DNCRP Director General AHM Sufiuzzaman while addressing a meeting with wholesale and retail fruit traders at the meeting room of the DNCRP on Monday.

Presiding over the meeting, he said, “An artificial crisis of consumer goods including fruits is created in the market ahead of Ramadan every year. Traders take advantage of this to increase the price as per their whims.

Sufiuzzaman said, “Imported luxury fruits like dragons, rambutans, avocados and rock melons are being sold at exorbitant prices in supermarkets and fruit shops in upscale areas of the capital which ultimately affect in the local fruits’ market. Besides, the prices of foreign fruits like apples, grapes and oranges are also increasing.”

“A month and a half ago, the commerce ministry has been recommended to stop the import of luxury fruits during Ramadan,” he informed the meeting, adding, “Amid the ongoing dollar crisis, the import of super luxury fruits can be stopped for the time being to save foreign currency.”

At the same time, we have recommended to change the existing tariff structure to discourage the import of foreign fruits, he said.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, 52 types of fruits are imported in the country in two categories including ‘fresh fruit’ and ‘dry fruit’. Dates, raisins and almonds are imported under ‘dry fruit’ category while apple, orange, pear, grape, malta, mandarin, pineapple, dry cherry, dragon, strawberry fall under ‘fresh fruit’ category. These fruits are imported from South Africa, China, New Zealand, Egypt, Australia, Turkey, India, Thailand, Tunisia, Poland and Brazil.

The government imposed additional duty on the import of fruits in May amid dollar crisis in the country. In July, the bank’s credit facility for importing goods was stopped.

However, the fruit imports have not decreased, import of different types of fruits has increased by 61,540 metric tonnes or 220 per cent in November compared to the July.