69,000 tons of onions come from seven countries

Chittagong: Initiatives have been taken to import 69,390 tonnes of onions through the Chittagong port amid the ban on onion imports from India. These onions come from the plant quarantine center in Chittagong seaport from September 3-18 against 218 import permits (IP).

The onions will be shipped from China, Turkey, Egypt, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

Deputy Director of the Plant Quarantine Center. Mohammad Asaduzzaman Bulbul told banglanews on Thursday (September 18) evening that we have issued 6 import permits today to import 21,911 tonnes of onions. Traders are getting excited about importing onions due to various incentives from the Bangladesh Bank and the government.

According to an importer, efforts are being made to bring the onions in refrigerated containers as soon as possible as they are perishable products. If the quantity is greater, the onions will be brought to the port of Chittagong on a cargo ship that has a cold storage facility. If the ‘cost of doing business’ is favorable, onion imports will continue according to demand.
In Khatunganj, the onion costs 55-60 rupees.

The onion market in Khatunganj, one of the largest consumer goods wholesale markets in the country, did not sell much on Thursday, the last day of the week. Although the onion warehouse is full, the warehouse workers spend most of their time lazily.
Mohammad Idris, general secretary of the Hamidullah Market Entrepreneurs Association, told banglanews that the best quality onions imported from India were sold for a maximum of Tk 80 on Thursday (September 18) before the export ban. Apart from this, the spotted onions have been wholesale for a minimum price of Tk 55. However, sales were low.
A trader, who did not want to be named, said the shortage in onion production in Bangladesh must be covered by importing them from India. If India stops exporting, thick onions are imported from alternative countries. The price of these onions is also less and less bitter. So the demand is less. However, there is no alternative in times of crisis. More importantly, farmers need to increase onion production with incentives.
Retail onion 75-80 rupees

Onions imported from India are retailed for a maximum of Rs 60 in various grocery stores in the city. The carts and alleys are sold for 75 rupees. Several grocery stores have been visited at Kazir Deuri CDA Market and the onions have been layered. Sellers ask for Rs 60 per kg. The idea of ​​the sellers is that in the past, during the onion crisis, consumers in general tended to buy more but are now buying less.

However, small-sized onions are available from the Kazir Deuri raw market. According to the seller, the domestic small size onion costs Rs 75, the slightly larger size local onion is Rs 90. Smart shoppers buy more onions. However, it goes without saying that these local onions are not available in the Khatunganj wholesale market. These must be collected with great difficulty at a higher price.
TCB to sell onions from 20 trucks in Chittagong on Friday

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) initially sold onion, sugar, lentil beans and soybean oil in 10 trucks in Chittagong, but sold it in 15 trucks on Tuesday and Wednesday. TCB Chittagong regional head Jamal Uddin Ahmed told banglanews that the onions would be sold in 20 trucks in Chittagong on Friday (September 18).
He said that now 200 kg of onions are delivered to each truck. The onion will be given at the rate of 1 kg per person.

Bangladesh time: 2228 hours, September 18, 2020
AR / TC