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Dhaka: I am the Minister of Commerce, I understand commerce. I cannot answer if there is a deep politics behind the onion.
For the first time, we have tried to bring onions from other markets earlier this year. We were late to test from different places last year. Because we and the merchants had no experience.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi made the remarks at a press conference on Wednesday (September 16) in the conference room of the Commerce Ministry on the storage, supply and pricing situation of essential commodities, including onions. At this time, the Secretary of Commerce. Zafar Uddin, Additional Secretary Obaidul Azam and Additional Secretary Sharifa Khan were present.
India abruptly stopped onion exports, which means that our relations with India are at an all-time high. But when it comes to trading, we see a lot of problems. When asked if there is any problem in maintaining the diplomatic process, the Trade Minister said: “The first thing is politics.” The last time they stopped exporting onions, this time they did. But before closing the last time, they set a floor price. Then it closed on September 29. At that time, onions were sold in his country for 150 rupees. At the time, onions were sold in ration shops in West Bengal.
“We continue to monitor onion prices since the last experience,” he said. This shows that the price of onion has been rising in Nasik for the last 15 days. Onions are sold there for Rs 32 to Rs 35. The ministry asked TCB to open the LC before closing it. We thought prices would go up, we didn’t think India would stop exporting. On the afternoon of the day they closed, I had no idea they would stop, maybe they would set a floor price. But suddenly it stopped. As a result, we are under a lot of pressure.
When asked if there is any deep policy on onion, the Trade Minister said: “I am the Trade Minister, I understand trade.” I cannot answer if there is deep politics behind this. That is not my job. We have been in contact with India since that incident. Our Foreign Minister sent a note explaining why it was stopped. Also, measurements will be taken regarding the onions that are on the edge.
“One thing I have seen is that the price of onions has doubled in India as well,” he said. Now I don’t know if it stopped for this reason or for some other reason. However, I can say that we have prepared a little more than last time. I will be able to normalize the price by bringing onions from other markets within a month.
When asked what our market monitoring team was doing in the wake of the skyrocketing commodity prices in the country, he said: “First of all, it is unpredictable that India will shut it down.” It is possible to bring cheap onion from India to our country at any stage. The cost of importing from India is Rs 20/21 per kg and from Turkey it is Rs 32/35. The reality is that merchants will enter where it is cheapest and consumers will also benefit. Prices don’t matter when it’s closed. Because we need onions. As a result, I will bring it from where I get it. Our onion production this year has been one lakh of tonnes more than last year.
When asked about the onions stuck at the border, he said that he had spoken with High Commissioner Reva Ganguly last night. He said that in a day or two he would talk about the problems at the border and the problem would be solved.
On the liability of unscrupulous traders, he said: “Whenever we exert pressure, the onions fly out of the market. And how much I am going to fill the case and the jail. So we understand that one thing is okay. One day our follow-up team went to Khatunganj and they closed the whole market. That is why we have promised to increase the fine.
The secretary said, we currently have 5 lakh of metric tons in stock in our country. In September alone, 44,000 metric tons were imported. In August, the LC opened 72 thousand metric tons, in July the LC became 1 lakh 13 thousand metric tons. There is no reason to panic over the supply of our domestic onions.
Bangladesh time: 1831 hours, September 18, 2020
GCG / AA
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