The Ministry of Commerce has fixed prices for general grade dates, an essential iftar item, for the holy month of Ramadan.
According to a notice issued on Monday, the ministry has fixed the price range for low-grade dates at Tk 150-165 per kg. Besides, the price of Zahidi dates, which come in sacks, has been fixed between Tk 170-180 per kg.
This notice was sent to both the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association, reports UNB.
On Tuesday, dates of general grades were being sold at Tk 280 to Tk 450 per kg in Dhaka city, which is 22 per cent higher year-on-year, according to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data.
The price fixation for these grades came on the first day of the fasting month of Ramadan, which, according to Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission data, accounts for half of the 1,00,000 tonnes of imported dates consumed in Bangladesh.
The new duty rates for import of dates are already effective and will remain in place until March 30.
Last month, the National Board of Revenue slashed import duty on dates to 15 per cent from 25 per cent to encourage traders to reduce prices and enable consumers to buy it at low rates ahead of and during Ramadan.
However, prices went significantly up as demand grew ahead of Ramadan.
In the capital city, the retail price of general grade dates rose by 4 per cent over the past month, according to TCB data.
