Govt moves to import onion amid 33% price surge
Onions, which were priced at Tk55 per kg on 31 July, climbed steadily to Tk85 by 11 August
The government plans to import onions to curb soaring prices, as the country's onion market has remained unstable for over a week.
Onions, which were priced at Tk55 per kilogram on 31 July, climbed steadily to Tk85 by 11 August.
According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), retail onion prices have surged by 33% compared to July, with increases ranging between Tk20 and Tk30 per kilogram.
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Traders and market insiders attributed this instability to a supply shortage caused by torrential rains and an import suspension that has been in effect since March.
In response, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin confirmed today (12 August) that the government will permit onion imports from any country to ease the price surge.
This decision comes despite the country producing approximately 800,000 tonnes more onions than domestic demand earlier in the year. However, as the onion season ended and imports halted, wholesalers cited reduced supply due to incessant rainfall, pushing prices upward.
At a press briefing following a meeting to set export targets for the 2025-26 fiscal year, the commerce adviser said imports will be approved based on market demand and supply.
"Our main objective is to reduce onion prices and increase supply. Therefore, we will allow imports from wherever the lowest price can be found, not just from India," he said.
Onion price rises Tk30 at Ctg's Khatunganj
The retail price of locally produced onions has increased by Tk20 to 30 per kilogram in the wholesale markets of Khatunganj and Chaktai in Chattogram.
Market insiders and retailers said that although stocks are adequate at wholesale levels, wholesalers have restricted sales, citing supply shortages—actions that have fueled market instability.
Md Idris, general secretary of the Hamidullah Mia Market Traders Association in Khatunganj, said the persistent rains, season end and import stoppage have sharply driven up prices at Mokams (production hubs) by Tk250 to Tk300 within a week, impacting wholesale and retail markets alike.
Consumers, meanwhile, express frustration over the lack of effective monitoring by authorities.
Abdul Kader, a consumer, said, "For the past 15 to 20 years, we have seen such instability in essential goods markets. Old syndicates still manipulate prices arbitrarily."
S M Nazer Hossain, vice president of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), criticised the government's oversight, stating, "Every year, such instability occurs due to poor supervision. Market actors create artificial shortages to hike prices, and the administration must intervene properly."
On Tuesday, local onions in Khatunganj and Chaktai were sold between Tk70 and Tk87 per kilogram—small onions at Tk70-75 and large onions at Tk81-87—up from Tk50-60 the previous week.
The Department of Agricultural Extension reported that 44.48 lakh tonnes of onions were produced locally in the 2024-25 fiscal year—about 5.37 lakh more than the previous year.
The government had suspended onion imports since March to protect farmers by ensuring fair prices. However, the current price volatility and consumer hardship have prompted authorities to reconsider this policy.
Although the government has announced the decision to import, the exact timeline and quantities have yet to be finalised.
