Decision on onion import to come in 2-3 days

The agriculture ministry will observe the market trend and take a final decision on allowing onion import in the next two to three days, Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque said today.

He shared the information responding to queries of journalists at the ministry, according to a press release.

The popular vegetable's prices doubled to as much as Tk 80 per kilogramme in the Dhaka market within a month as some people went for stocking onions.

Amid soaring prices, the commerce ministry requested the agriculture ministry to allow import of onions, Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said today at an event.

Talking to journalists, Razzaque said onion's production and stock was good last year.

Its prices were low too and many farmers stocked the bulb to get higher prices but they suffered losses as onions got rotten, he said.

"This is why we want to see the situation this year. A large number of officials collected information about onions this year and we have come to know that there is ample stock of the bulb. Many people are not selling onions on expectation of a rise in its prices."