Onion prices increase in Hili by Tk20

Onion prices have increased by Tk 20 per kg in Hili of Dinajpur’s Hakimpur upazila within the span of a week leaving mid and low-income people in distress.

Last Friday, onion was being sold at Tk 60 per kg, however, the prices went up to Tk 80 per kg yesterday.

According to the traders, the supply of onions in the market has reduced due to low imports which led to increased prices. They estimate the prices may increase further.

Local traders claim that they are only able to profit from Tk 2-3 per kg even though the price is gradually rising by Tk 5-10 per kg.

A buyer Abdur Rauf of Matpara village of the upazila, expressing his dissatisfaction with the sudden price increase, said he bought onions at Tk 60 per kg last week but on Friday he had to buy them for Tk 80.

Another onion buyer Mamunur Rashid of Dharanda village said, “It will be difficult for low-income people like us to survive if the prices of kitchen essentials rise like this. I heard prices may go up further. If onions are imported from India, prices of the domestic varieties will lower.”

Md Mosharof Hossain a wholesale onion seller in Hili Bazar said, “I bought onions for Tk 75 and sold them for Tk 80. Sometimes onions dry up and lose weight or rot, so we have to at least make a profit of Tk 5 or we will face losses.”

Another wholesale trader Ferdous Rahman said that Indian onion import had been stopped since May 15 this year.

“There are only domestic onions in the market now. Supply is low compared to the demand. Farmers are not selling their harvest for lower than Tk 70-72,” he said.

He also said, “I sell onions for Tk 75 to retailers and from where it gets sold for Tk 80 per kg. The prices will come down soon if the import of onions from India starts again.”