ZCZC
BSS-25
ONION-PRICE-MONITORING
10 teams to monitor onion price
DHAKA, Sept 30, 2019 (BSS) – The government has decided to form monitoring teams to check further price hike of onion at the wholesale and retail market as the country has adequate onion stock.
“A total of 10 monitoring teams will be formed led by the Additional Secretaries of the Commerce Ministry to oversee the wholesale and retail market so that none could create artificial crisis of the kitchen staple through hoarding it unethically,” Commerce Secretary Dr Mohammad Jafar Uddin told newsmen at his ministry here today.
“Tough action will be taken if anybody is found hoarding onion for creating artificial crisis in the market,” the official said.
The government has also reinforced the monitoring teams led by the Directorate of National Consumer Right Protection, he said, adding that “the main job of these teams is to oversee smooth movement of the commodity to wholesale and retail markets from the local markets of the onion producing districts and the land ports like Benapole and Bangla Bandha.”
Meanwhile, the price of local onion has abruptly jumped to Taka 100-110 per kg at the kitchen markets in the capital after the announcement of onion export ban by India on Sunday.
Under the situation, the commerce secretary said, there is nothing to be worried as the country has adequate stock of onion and huge quantity of the commodity is coming from Myanmar, Egypt and Turkey.
After abrupt rise of the export price by the Indian government on September 13, he said the government had started importing onion from Myanmar through border trade and opening the letter of credit (LC) and everyday 200 tonnes of onion is being imported from Myanmar.
The government has also started import from Egypt and Turkey, he said, adding that two ships already have anchored at Chattogram sea port.
To check price hike of the commodity, he said the state arm Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) has increased the selling points of onion to 35 in the capital on Monday.
These points are Press club, Kaptan Bazar, secretariat gate, Victoria park/Sadar Ghat/Gendaria, Dainik Bangla intersection, MOthijheel Govt Colony, Mothijheel Bok Chattar, Dilkhusa, Bangladesh Bank Premises/Kamlapur Bus Stop, Fakirapool Bazar, Malibagh Bazar, Shantinagar Bazar, Rampura Bazar, Banasree Ideal School, Khilgaon Taltola Bazar, Shahjahanpur Bazar, Basabo Bazar, Madartek/Nandipara/ in front of Krishi Bank, Kalmilata Bazar/Mahakhali, Khamarbari (Farmgate), Election Commission Office at Agargaon, Taltola (Mirpur), Shewrapara Bazar/60-feet Banga Mosque, Mirpur-10 )goal chattar/Stadium, Mirpur-1 (Mazar road)/Bangla College/Gabtoli, Rajanigandha Super Market (Kotchu Khet), Shyamoli intersection/NAM Garden, Mohammadpur/Lalmatia Townhall Market/Arong, Jigatola Intersection/Dhanmondi Govt Colony, Science laboratory intersection, Palashi Chapra Mosque, New Market Post office (Battola), Ashkona Hazi Camp, Raj Lakhi Complex (Uttara)/Jashimuddin road/Azimpur BNCC, Vikarunnesa Gate-10/ Eastern Housing, Officers Club and Eskaton Garden Mosque.
On September 13, India had increased the minimum export price (MEP) of onion to $850 per tonne from the earlier MEP of $250 which had badly affected the retail price of the onion in the country from the next day.
The retail prices of both local and Indian onions in the capital rose to Tk 80 with a maximum hike of Tk 30 per kg, prompting the government to intervene.
After two weeks of export price hike, the Indian government has banned the export of onions to control the soaring prices of the kitchen staple.
BSS/SPL/OG/BR/1843