Home ›› 17 Jun 2023 ›› Nation
Importers have imported 8,530 tonnes of onion through the Hili land port of Dinajpur in the last 10 days after the import permit was issued by the government.
On the other hand, prices are going down in both wholesale and retail markets as import increase.
Onion importers Md Labu Mallik, Md Kamal Hossain and Zakir Hossain said onion import was banned for over 10 weeks to ensure that domestic farmers get a fair price for their produce. Import began on June 5 and is gradually increasing since then.
The local variety of onions was being sold at Tk 80-90 per kg in retail markets before the import began. As Indian onion has entered the market, the price of domestic onion has reduced by Tk 30-40 per kg and is being sold at the rate of Tk 50-55 per kg.
Indian onions are being sold inside at a wholesale rate of Tk 27-29 per kg. It is expected that the import of onions will increase and the price will come down further.
The demand for onions increases every year during Eid-ul-Azha.
Abdur Rahim, who came to buy onions in the Hili market, expressed his relief at the lower rates of onion. He bought domestic onions at the rate of Tk 50 kg on Friday.
Another onion buyer Md Saiful Islam said, “The low-income people like us were getting worried with the increased prices of onions. I bought Indian onions for Tk 30 per kg at the retail market.”
According to wholesaler Md Zahid Hossain, Indian onions are being sold at Tk 21-26 per kg wholesale rate.
Ferdous Rahman, a wholesale onion seller, said, “We are buying Indian onions at the rate of Tk 25-28 from the importers and Tk 26-29 per kg.
Md Moinul Hossain, a retail onion seller at Hili Bazaar, said the price of domestic onions has also decreased due to the arrival of Indian onions in the market.
Md Sohbar Hossain, public relations officer of Panama Hili Land Port Link Limited, said that since getting the IP, importers are importing onions through the port every day.
As onion is a raw product the port authority has made separate arrangements for the unloading of the trucks’ customs process.
According to Hili Customs sources, about 60 tonnes of onions in 3 Indian trucks on June 5, about 840 tonnes in 42 Indian trucks on June 6, about 260 tonnes in 13 Indian trucks on June 7 and about 280 tonnes in 14 Indian trucks on June 8, about 1,398 tonnes in 49 trucks on 10 June, about 1,034 tonnes in 35 trucks on 11 June, about 1,275 tonnes on 42 trucks on 12 June, about 1,247 tonnes in 42 trucks on 13 June and 838 tonnes in 28 trucks on June 14 were imported via the port.
About 8,530 tonnes of onions were imported in 311 Indian trucks in 10 days after getting IP.
