Govt to import onion if prices do not ease this week: Sk Bashir

The government will decide to import onion if the prices do not decrease at desired level within this week, said Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin.

The adviser said this while talking to the reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday, November 9.

"We are closely observing the market. If the prices of onion do not fall as per necessity, we will approve the import, Sk Bashir said, adding, "However, if the prices come to normalcy, we will not give approval to import onion."

Onion prices surged from Tk 70 to a staggering Tk 120 per kilogram within a week, causing frustration among city dwellers.

A visit to several wholesale and retail markets in Dhaka on Thursday revealed that onion prices have jumped by Tk 40–50 per kg compared to the previous week. 

In retail markets, onions were selling between Tk 110 and Tk 120 per kg.

Wholesale markets also saw a sharp surge. The price per palla (5 kg) has doubled — from Tk 260 to Tk 520 — with some traders charging as high as Tk 540 per palla, meaning wholesale rates have now crossed Tk 100 per kg.

With inputs from UNB

RMM/MSU