Both the treasury and opposition bench lawmakers today urged the government for taking necessary action to arrest the continuous price hike of the onion as the price of per kg onion now hits Taka 180-200, per kg in city’s kitchen market.
Onion, which was sold at Taka 35-45 per kg even a month ago, rose to to Taka 120-130 per kg a week ago at the kitchen market in the city, but it has shot up to Tk 200, which needs to be investigated by the concerned authorities, they said in the House on Thursday (Nov 14) while addressing on a point of order with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
Calling the finance minister to make ‘zero’ duty on onion import, senior treasury bench lawmaker Tofail Ahmed said, “the continuous price hike of the onion is tarnishing the image of the government.” He added that the government should curtail the import duty for some days and it will help ease the onion crisis in the country.
“I myself was also a commerce minister. The government has to take steps to import onion from Turkey, China and Myanmar after assessing shortage of the commodity,” he told the parliament.
“A section of traders are performing ‘joke’ with the price of the onion,” said opposition BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid. He urged the government to take necessary steps to this end.
Participating in a very short unscheduled discussion, opposition lawmaker Mujibul Haq Chunnu urged the government to carry out a crackdown against the unscrupulous onion traders as it[onion price hike] is clearly a conspiracy against the government.
Senior treasury bench lawmakers Mohammad Nasim and former chief whip ASM Feroz also took part in the short discussion.