Onion prices fall as imports resume through Hili port

Onion prices have fallen by Tk 20-25 per kg at Dinajpur’s Hili land port as imports from India have resumed following the Eid-ul-Azha festival, said Hili Land Port Importers’ Group president Harun-ur-Rashid.

Importer Rezaul Islam said that the prices started to drop as supply increased through the port.

Onion prices were a steep Tk 50-55 per kilogramme over a few days but it has now come down to Tk 28-30.

Importers started importing onion on Tuesday from India through the Hili land port after they were allowed to import it with a view to keeping the market stable and supply normal ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival.

Many importers at the port have got an import permit (IP) to import onion from India. Anny Enterprise, an importer firm, imported 299 tonnes of onion from India at 6 pm.

Hili Land Port Importers’ Group president Harun-ur-Rashid said onion imports through all land ports in the country have remained stopped since May 5 after the Ministry of Commerce stopped the issuance of IPs. The ministry has again allowed businessmen to import onion with a view to keeping the supply in the market normal ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Hili Land Port Plant Quarantine Center deputy assistant quarantine officer Yusuf Ali said the market for onion would become normal while the prices would go down as the import of onion begins.