DOT Desk: The onion and potato market has gradually become more volatile in Chattogram and elsewhere in the country for various reasons, including alleged syndication and bracketing of the export price in India,reports Daily Sun.
Besides, the announcement of the three-day blockade by the BNP and like-minded parties started pushing up the prices further fearing a supply crunch.
However, the Commerce Ministry’s decision to allow the import of potatoes will help keep the potato price stable to some extent, insiders said.
The Indian government has fixed the lowest export price for onions at $800 per tonne, starting from Sunday and to be effective until 31 December. The decision has been taken to discourage exports and contain the price in the Indian market.
Due to the sudden surge in potato prices, Bangladesh has decided to import the item to keep the daily essential commodity’s price stable, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Monday where the interested importers were requested to apply to the ministry.
Regarding the import of potatoes, Agriculture Minister Dr Abdur Razzaque said that an Import Permit (IP) for the item will be issued from Monday, as the ministry already approved the import.
“Though the price of potato in the international market is less, it is much higher in our country. As the commerce ministry approved the import of potatoes, we will issue the IP,” he said.