ZCZC
BSS-45
TIPU-ONION
Onion import starts from alternate sources: Tipu Munshi
DHAKA, Nov 1, 2020 (BSS) – Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi today said that onion import has started from alternate sources in a bid to meet the demand in the local market.
“Unrest was created in the onion market last year. Based on that experience, we’re prepared this time and onion import has started with support from the government just after the beginning of the crisis. Onion started to come in the country three days earlier,” he said.
The commerce minister was addressing a function marking the distribution of the “ERF Best Reporting Award 2020” of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF), held at its office in the city’s Purana Paltan area.
He distributed crests and cheques for Taka 50,000 each to 15 selected best reporters (ERF members) in nine different categories. The Asia Foundation facilitated the award giving ceremony as they provided the award amount and crests.
Mentioning that there is a deficit of around 8 to 9 lakh metric tons of onion every year, he said the deficit starts to become evident in September and 90 percent of the deficit is usually met by India.
“But, now there is a deficit in their (Indian) market too. Onion is being sold at Taka 105 to Taka 110 (converting Rupees into Taka) per KG at Kolkata today while potato is being sold at Rupees 47 or around Taka 55 per KG there. This means that the prices of onion and potato have increased in their country as well as in our country,” Tipu said.
The commerce minister said that export of onion to Bangladesh was halted by India all on a sudden since its price had increased there.
He also informed that the price of per KG onion could not be brought down below Taka 55 in the local market now incorporating the profit of the importers, middlemen and the wholesalers.
The minister said the right steps alongside the incentives provided to the RMG sector by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have helped this sector to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He suggested the economic reporters to make their reporting maintaining authenticity and highlighting the economic progress of the country.
Chaired by ERF President Saif Islam Dilal, the Asia Foundation Country Representative Kazi Faisal Bin Siraj, former ERF President Shamsul Haque Zahid, ERF Best Reporting Award, 2020 Jury Board coordinator Sirajul Islam Qadir and ERF general secretary SM Rashedul Islam, among others, spoke on the occasion.
The Award winners are Jamal Uddin of daily Ittefaq, Jashim Uddin Haroon of the Financial Express, Rajib Ahmed, Jahangir Shah Kajol and Sanaullah Sakib of the daily Prothom Alo, Ismail Ali of Share Biz, SM Hamid Uz Zaman of daily Jugantor, Jebun Nesa Alo of the Daily Business Standard, Altaf Masud of Desh Rupantor, Razu Ahmed of GTV, Sushanto Sinha, Rimon Rahman and Alamgir Hossain of Jamuna TV, SM Jobair Alam of Somoy TV and Kaberi Moitreyo of Ekattor TV.
BSS/ASG/RI/GM/GA/1934 hrs