Onion price under control: Industries minister
Industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun on Tuesday claimed that the onion price, which had skyrocketed, is now under control, reports news agency UNB.
“I believe the onion market that had gone beyond control is now under control,” he said in response to a supplementary question from BNP MP Jahidur Rahman in parliament in absence of commerce minister Tipu Mushi.
He said the onion market got overheated due to its short supply caused by India’s export ban following flash flood in the neighbouring country.
“But we’ve brought the situation under control quickly… we’re importing onion from Myanmar and Turkey,” he said.
Majid also said it is a lean season for onion and the crisis usually prevails at this time. “Our local onion is yet to hit the market, but it’ll be available in the market within a few days.”
The minister also mentioned that the import of onion from India has started.
The industries minister said the government is operating mobile courts at district and upazila levels to prevent the sale of onion at exorbitant prices. The Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection and other government agencies are monitoring markets across the country.
Replying to a written question from Awami League MP Anwar Khan (Lakshmipur-1), he said the annual demand for onion in the country is 2.4 million tonnes against the local production of 2.33 million tonnes.
“Of the produced amount, 30 per cent got damaged during harvesting and preservation. That means the total amount stands at 1.63 million tonnes. The deficit is met with import from India.”
But, he said, the onion production suffered in India seriously due to flood in Maharashtra state. For that, the export price has been raised to USD 850 from USD 250-300. “Later, they stopped onion export as the price shoots up abnormally. As a result, the price in Bangladesh also increased.”
To cool down the market, the minister said, the government has started selling onion in the open market through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).